Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

hypercholesterolemia
High blood cholesterol.
See also 
familial hypercholesterolemia.
hypercoagulable state
A condition in which
there is an abnormally increased tendency toward
blood clotting (coagulation). There are numerous
hypercoagulable states. Each has different causes,
and each increases a person’s chances of develop-
ing blood clots, such as those associated with
thrombophlebitis (inflammation due to a clot in the
veins). The causes include medications (particu-
larly female hormones and birth control pills), sur-
gery (especially hip, knee, and urinary system
procedures), pregnancy, phospholipid antibodies in
blood (anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagu-
lant), cancer (although most patients with hyperco-
agulable states do not have cancer), elevated blood
homocysteine levels, and inherited protein deficien-
cies, such as deficiencies of antithrombin III, factor
V Leiden, protein S, and protein C. Treatment
involves avoidance of the triggering mechanism and
sometimes use of blood-thinning medication. See
also 
antiphospholipid syndrome; estrogen-
associated hypercoagulability.
hyperemesis gravidarum
Extreme, excessive,
and persistent vomiting in early pregnancy that may
lead to dehydration and malnutrition. It is usually
associated with weight loss of more than 5 percent
of the woman’s prepregnancy weight. Hyperemesis
gravidarum affects about 1 in every 300 pregnant
women and is most common in young women, in
first pregnancies, and in women carrying multiple
fetuses. Hyperemesis gravidarum usually stops on
its own by the 20th week of pregnancy. Treatment of
mild hyperemesis gravidarum usually involves
dietary measures, rest, and use of antacids. Very
severe hyperemesis gravidarum may call for the use
of intravenous fluids and nutrition.