hyper-
HY-per prefix
A word beginning that means above, over or more than normal.
What it means
The beginning of words for too much or too high. hypertensionhy-per-TEN-shunBlood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.hyper- above, more than normaltension pressureFull entry is high blood pressure, hyperglycemiahy-per-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.hyper- aboveglyc/o sugar-emia in the bloodFull entry is high blood sugar, hyperkalemiahy-per-kuh-LEE-mee-uhA blood potassium level above normal, over 5.0 mEq/L.hyper- abovekal potassium (from its Latin name, kalium)-emia in the bloodFull entry and hypernatremiahy-per-nuh-TREE-mee-uhA blood sodium level above normal, over 145 mEq/L.hyper- abovenatr sodium (from its Latin name, natrium)-emia in the bloodFull entry are high potassium and sodium, hyperthyroidismhy-per-THY-roy-diz-umA condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.hyper- above, overthyr/o thyroid gland-ism conditionFull entry is an overactive thyroid and hyperthermiahy-per-THER-mee-uhA body temperature that is higher than normal because the body takes in or makes more heat than it can lose.hyper- abovetherm/o heat-ia conditionFull entry is a body temperature that is too high. Its opposite is hypo-HY-pohA word beginning that means under, below or less than normal.Full entry , which means below or less than normal.
Remember it
Hyper is high, like a hyperactive child bouncing off the walls; hypo is low, like a hypodermic needle going under the skin.
Easy to mix up with hypo-.
Side by side, so you never swap them.
HY-perA word beginning that means above, over or more than normal.
Words built from hyper-
The 12 most looked up of the 32 words in this dictionary built from it, the part marked in each.
hy-per-AK-tiv BOW-ul sowndBowel sounds that are louder, more frequent or longer than normal when listening to the abdomen.
hyperchloremiahy-per-klor-EE-mee-uhA blood chloride level above normal, over 106 mEq/L.
hyperglycemiahy-per-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.
hypersensitivityhy-per-sen-sih-TIV-ih-teeAn overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is usually harmless.
hyperthermiahy-per-THER-mee-uhA body temperature that is higher than normal because the body takes in or makes more heat than it can lose.
hyperkalemiahy-per-kuh-LEE-mee-uhA blood potassium level above normal, over 5.0 mEq/L.
hypertensionhy-per-TEN-shunBlood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
hyperventilationhy-per-ven-tih-LAY-shunBreathing faster or deeper than the body needs, so too much carbon dioxide is breathed out.
hypercalcemiahy-per-kal-SEE-mee-uhA blood calcium level above normal.
hypercapniahy-per-KAP-nee-uhToo much carbon dioxide in the blood, a PaCO2 above 45 mm Hg.
hypervolemiahy-per-voh-LEE-mee-uhA higher than normal volume of fluid in the blood vessels; also called fluid volume excess or fluid overload.
malignant hyperthermiamuh-LIG-nunt hy-per-THER-mee-uhA rare inherited reaction to certain general anesthesia drugs in which the muscles' metabolism speeds up out of control.
Words that go with it
Read these next: they turn up in the same notes, orders and questions.
hy-per-kuh-LEE-mee-uhA blood potassium level above normal, over 5.0 mEq/L.
hypertensionhy-per-TEN-shunBlood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
hyperglycemiahy-per-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.
Instruments that go with hyper
Real photos of each one, the names techs call it and what it’s for. Tap one to see it up close.
A client’s heart rate is 128 beats per minute an hour after surgery. Which finding is the most likely cause of the tachycardia?
tak-ih-KAR-dee-uhA heart rate faster than normal; in an adult, more than 100 beats per minute.
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