Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes Glossary of Medical Terms

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Medical Tests


Definitions

PAD: Peripheral Arterial Disease. PAD, is a disease of the blood vessels. The arteries supplying blood to the limbs get blocked and usually affects one or both legs but it can also affect the arms or “peripheral” body organs (that is, any organ other than the brain, the heart, or the lungs).

Atherosclerosis, the thickening of the walls of the arteries due to cholesterol-filled plaques, is usually the cause of PAD. Occasionally, PAD occurs suddenly when a blood clot formed in the heart or in another blood vessel breaks off and wedges itself in a smaller artery.

PAD

PAOD – Peripheral Artery Occlusive Disease (PAOD is also known as peripheral vascular disease [PVD]) is a term for all disease caused by the obstruction of large peripheral arteries, which can result from atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes leading to stenosis, an embolism or thrombus formation. It causes either acute or chronic ischemia. It can also effect the lymph vessels.

PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – A syndrome (not a disease) that affects women after puberty. Symptoms include weight gain, insulin resistance, increased facial hair and acne, infertility, and can lead to heart disease, certain types of cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

PCP: Primary care physician; your main doctor. When discussing insurance PCP may also refer to “preferred care provided.”

Peripheral Vascular Disease: A disease of the large blood vessels of the arms, legs, and feet. PVD may occur when major blood vessels in these areas are blocked and do not receive enough blood. The signs of PVD are aching pains and slow-healing foot sores.

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