Clinical Diagnosis · Multiple Systems · Medium
Hypernatraemia
Meaning: An abnormally high level of sodium in the blood, usually due to water loss or inadequate drinking.
In practice: The frail nursing home resident was admitted with dehydration and hypernatraemia.
Word parts
- hyper- means above or more than normal
- -aemia means a condition of the blood
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: The presence of abnormally large red blood cells, often due to alcohol, B12 or folate deficiency.
Answer: Macrocytosis
Which word means: Absence of sweating over an area of skin.
Answer: Anhidrosis
Words like hypernatraemia come up in the daily game
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