Medical diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury based on the signs and symptoms presented. Types of medical diagnosis are:
- Provisional:Based on physical exam and clinical findings
- Histopathological:Done by a pathologist after examining sample tissue under a microscope
- Final:Done based on provisional diagnosis and investigations
Accurate diagnoses require data from the following sources:
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Tests such as blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies
5 of the most common medical diagnoses
1. Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form ofdementiathat can severely impair day-to-day function. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:
- Memory loss
- Problems with judgment and thinking
Tests used to make a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease include:
2. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat is a condition in which theheartis unable to pump blood to the body efficiently. Symptoms of arrhythmia include:
- Fluttering in the chest
- Pounding heartbeat
- Slow heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Anxiety
Tests used to make a medical diagnosis of arrhythmias include:
- Electrocardiography orECG
- Holter monitor
- Echocardiogram
- Implantable loop recorder
- Stresstest
3. Arthritis
Arthritisis inflammation of muscles and joints. Symptoms ofarthritisinclude:
There are five types of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spondyloarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Paget’s disease of bone
Tests used to make a medical diagnosis of arthritis include:
- Erythrocytesedimentation rate(ESR)
- C-reactive protein(CRP)
- Complete blood cell count
- Rheumatoid factorassay
- Antinuclear antibody assay
- Joint aspiration
4. Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Chronickidney diseaseis a condition in which the kidneys do not filter out waste from the blood, leading to the accumulation of waste in the body. Symptoms of CKD include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- 食欲不振
- Fatigueandweakness
- Sleep problems
- Little or no urination
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling offeetand ankles
- Dry anditchyskin
- Uncontrollablehypertension
- Shortness of breath if fluid builds up in thelungs
- Chest painif fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
Tests used to make a medical diagnosis of CKD include:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Imaging tests
- Kidney biopsy
5. Diabetes
Diabetesis a condition in which the body cannot utilizeinsulinefficiently and thus fails to regulate bloodsugarlevels.Symptoms of diabetesinclude:
- Frequent urination
- Weight loss
- Numbness or pins and needles sensation in the legs and feet
- Blurred vision
- Yeast infectionover the skin and genitals
- Slowwoundhealing
- Polydipsia (increasedthirst)
- Polyphagia (increased hunger)
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Itchyskin
- Blurred vision
- Irritability
- Skin infections
Tests used to make a medical diagnosis ofdiabetesinclude:
- Glycatedhemoglobin(A1C) test
- Random bloodsugar test
- Fasting bloodsugartest
- Oral glucose tolerance test
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of FatigueSee SlideshowMayo Clinic. Diabetes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371451
Mayo Clinic. Chronic kidney disease. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354527
Mayo Clinic. Heart arrhythmia. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350674
Top What Are Examples of Medical Diagnosis Related Articles
What Are the 7 Diagnostic Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Defined in 1987 and followed until 2010, the seven diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis are no longer in use. Instead, doctors rely on a new set of classification criteria for diagnosing RA.
Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms & Early Diagnosis
Memory loss and confusion can be signs of normal aging, but also warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. The early stages of Alzheimer's disease can affect problem solving, vision, and more.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia. Symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer's disease include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, disorientation to time and place, misplacing things, and more. The biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is increased age. Treatment for Alzheimer's is often targeted toward decreasing the symptoms and progression of the disease.
Arthritis (Joint Inflammation)
关节炎是一个或多个关节的炎症。When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- 订单:口服。摇来摇去m the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- 类风湿性关节炎:类风湿性关节炎
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Diabetes Quiz
Take the Diabetes Quiz and learn the causes, signs, symptoms, and types of this growing epidemic. What does diabetes have to do with obesity and diet? Learn about life as a diabetic.
How Can Cancer Be Diagnosed?
Along with your medical history and a physical exam, multiple diagnostic tests can be used to help your doctor confirm or eliminate the presence of cancer.
Kidney Disease Quiz
Kidney disease is common. Take this kidney disease quiz to test your knowledge and learn the symptoms, causes and types of kidney disease and what foods to eat and avoid!
What Do Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography Diagnose?
Nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography (EMG) are tests performed to assess the health of nerves and muscles. A neurophysiologist stimulates specific nerves and muscles and studies the resulting activity to evaluate if the nerves and muscles are functioning normally.
Osteoarthritis Slideshow
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease most often affecting major joints such as knees, hands, back, or hips. Osteoarthritis symptoms include pain, swelling and joint inflammation.
Diabetes Urine Tests
Urine tests for individuals with diabetes is important to check for diabetes-related kidney disease and severe hypoglycemia. With proper monitoring of blood glucose levels, diabetic-kidney disease can be avoided.
What Can a Liver Biopsy Diagnose?
A liver biopsy is a procedure that involves inserting a small needle into the liver to collect a tissue sample. The tissue is then analyzed in a lab to help the doctors diagnose a variety of disorders and diseases of the liver. A liver biopsy is usually performed to help identify the cause of liver ailments, and estimate the degree of liver damage, grade and stage of hepatitis B and C. Complications include internal bleeding, pain, infections, leak of bile from the liver or gallbladder, and pneumothorax.
What Is a Diagnostic Hysteroscopy?
A hysteroscopy is a frequently used minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that gives your doctor/gynecologist (women's specialist) a clear view of the inside of your womb (uterus).
What Is an EGD Used to Diagnose?
EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is a procedure for examining the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A flexible tube with a lighted camera (endoscope) is introduced through the mouth or nose passing through the esophagus and stomach up to the top part of the small intestine (duodenum). An EGD is also known as an upper endoscopy, and may diagnose GERD, stomach cancer and other upper GI problems.