Medical abbreviations are essential to navigating the everyday life of a medical professional. Whether you are the doctor or a medical assistant in NJ, being able to instantly understand medical abbreviations and terminology is essential for guaranteeing the best possible care for each patient in your care. For the hundreds of students in our New Jersey tech schools training every day to become the best in the medical field, here are 5 common medical abbreviations to remember.
DDX: Differential Diagnosis. DDX refers to the diagnostic method which is essential for discerning the cause of a problem for a patient, when more than 1 possibility is under consideration. The medical team will work to gather enough information in order to eliminate conditions which aren’t the true cause of a patient’s symptoms. Besides referring to the diagnostic method, DDX can refer to each of the possible conditions in consideration.
SOB: Shortness of Breath. Also called dyspnea, SOB is the unusual and unpleasant awareness of one’s breathing. It is a symptom of a wide variety of conditions, including congestive heart failure, asthma, and lung disease.
CNS: Central Nervous System. Referring to both the brain and the spinal cord, the Central Nervous System has a major impact on activities in all other parts of the body. Diseases affecting the CNS include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
CXR: Chest X-Ray. This is a test which uses an x-ray in order to create accurate images of a patient’s lungs, which are essential for understanding the current state of their lungs. Conditions such as Pneumonia and congestive heart failure and commonly found in CXRs, and can also be used for getting a holistic understanding of a patient’s health. Our dental radiology technician training program uses the same production of radiation in theory, but instead for dental x-rays.
ENT: Ears, Nose, and Throat. ENT and Otolaryngology is the study of medical conditions affecting the 3 aforementioned areas of the body. It is one of the oldest medical specializations in the country, and the majority of patient visits to a doctor are related to the ears, nose, or throat.
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