This presentation discusses medical terminology related to excessive thirst (polydipsia) and high calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia). It defines the suffixes -dipsia and -emia and their meanings in medical terms. For polydipsia, it provides the definition, causes such as dehydration and diabetes, and associated symptoms. For hypercalcemia, it defines the condition, possible causes such as parathyroid issues and cancer, related symptoms, and treatment options to reduce calcium levels and address underlying causes.

1. Presentation: Ch. 11
Scott Overly
Bio 120

2. Suffixes
• - dipsia
• - emia

3. - dipsia
• Excessive thirst: Polydipsia
• a medical symptom in which the patient
ingests abnormally large amounts of fluids
by mouth. The word is made from the
words poly meaning many and dipsia which
means thirst. The fluid is usually water,
though some people may think of alcohol
because of the etymologically related term
dipsomaniac, meaning an alcoholic.

4. Polydipsia
almost always associated with dehydration due to
polyuria, if the condition is prolonged beyond a few
hours in those with functioning kidneys.
It is often found in diabetics, one of the initial symptoms,
and in those who fail to take their anti-diabetic
medications or whose dosages have become
inadequate. It is also caused by other conditions such
as osmotic diuresis and diabetes insipdus ("water
diabetes"), and forms part of the differential diagnostic
tree for them.
Polydipsia is also a symptom of atropine or belladona
poisoning. Another cause can be due to medication
(such as diuretics) or consumption of caffeine. One who
drinks nothing but coffee or soda can be easily

5. - emia
• Hypercalcemia: • - emia: blood
Condition of condition
excessive calcium
in the blood • Hyper- over,
above
• Cal - calcium

6. Function
• plays an important role in contracting muscles,
releasing hormones and ensuring that your
nerves and brain function properly. High
calcium levels can interfere with these
processes.
• The main cause of hypercalcemia is
overactivity in one or more of your parathyroid
glands, which regulate blood calcium levels.
• Other causes of hypercalcemia include
cancer, some medications and excessive use
of calcium and vitaminD supplements.

7. Symptoms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle weakness,Muscle and joint aches
• Confusion,Lethargy,and fatigue

8. Treatments
• Intravenous fluids to rehydrate you
• Loop diuretic medications to help flush
excess calcium from your system and keep
your kidneys functioning
• Intravenous bisphosphonates, a group of
drugs that includes pamidronate (Aredia) and
zolendronate (Zometa), to prevent bone
breakdown

9. Treatments
• Calcitonin, a hormone produced by your
thyroid gland, to reduce bone reabsorption and
slow bone loss
• Glucocorticoids (corticosteroids) to help
counter the effects of too much vitamin D in
your blood caused by hypercalcemia
• Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis to
remove excess waste and calcium from your
blood if your kidneys are damaged and you
don't respond to other treatments

10. References
• www.mayclinic.com
• Medical Terminology: A Living Language
(ed.4th). Fregman, Bonnie F., & Suzanne S.
Frucht. Pearson, Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey