CollegeLetter

MedlinePlus: General Health Definitions

Speak your body’s language—one clear term at a time. Wellness is more than meals and workouts. When you know what blood pressure, BMI, and basal body temperature actually mean, you make smarter choices with less guesswork.

Open the health glossary Explore all general health terms

Plain-English definitions sourced from NIH and partner institutes
Covers vitals, cycle tracking, fitness metrics, and everyday measures
Free to use—no signup on the official MedlinePlus page

Learn how your body signals health

MedlinePlus bundles short, accurate explanations for the numbers and words you see at the doctor, on apps, and in the mirror. CollegeLetter points you to the General Health collection so you never stare at jargon without a lifeline.

Vitals you can track today

Systolic/diastolic readings, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and weight—all defined in one place.

Decode the numbers on your screen

Blood pressure pairs systolic and diastolic values—like 120/80—so you know what each beat and rest phase represents. Heart rate and respiratory rate entries explain what’s normal and why clinicians watch them.

Read vital sign definitions

Cycle and fertility terms, explained

Basal body temperature, cervical mucus, ovulation tests, and spotting each tell a different story about your cycle. The glossary walks through how to measure, what small shifts mean, and when sensitive tools matter.

View cycle-related terms

Sample terms you’ll master

Tap through to the full MedlinePlus page for every definition below—and dozens more in Fitness, Nutrition, Vitamins, and Minerals.

Blood pressure

Force of blood on artery walls—systolic over diastolic, like 120/80.

Body Mass Index

Height-and-weight estimate of body fat and related disease risk.

Blood alcohol content

Grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood—used medically and legally.

Blood type

Types A, B, O, AB plus Rh factor—what’s on your red blood cells.

Basal body temperature

Morning rest temperature—subtle rise can signal ovulation.

Heart rate

Beats per minute—how hard your heart is working at rest or activity.

See the complete list

Trust built on official U.S. health sources

Government-backed

MedlinePlus is an official U.S. government health resource—authored for the public, not for ads.

Secure HTTPS

Official .gov sites use HTTPS so you can browse definitions on a verified, encrypted connection.

Institute-sourced facts

Entries cite NIH MedlinePlus, NHLBI, NIAAA, and related institutes—keeping science at the center.

Go deeper than diet and exercise alone

CollegeLetter is your shortcut to the MedlinePlus General Health glossary—where inhaler usage, galvanic skin response, sexual activity metrics, and weight definitions sit beside the basics you use every day.

Start learning now

Your next health conversation starts with the right words

Open MedlinePlus General Health definitions free—understand your body, ask better questions, and track what matters.

Get the official definitions