Serious
Serious
Serious (/ˈsɪərɪəs/; from Latin serius, meaning "grave, earnest") is an adjective used to describe a state or quality of earnestness or solemnity. It is often used in medical contexts to describe conditions, symptoms, or situations that are of a grave or life-threatening nature.
Medical Usage
In a medical context, serious is used to describe conditions, symptoms, or situations that require immediate medical attention or that pose a significant risk to a patient's health or life. Examples of serious medical conditions include cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Serious symptoms might include chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden loss of consciousness. A serious situation could be a medical emergency such as a cardiac arrest or a severe allergic reaction.
Related Terms
- Critical: A term often used interchangeably with serious, but which typically implies a higher degree of urgency or risk.
- Chronic: Describes a condition or symptom that is persistent or long-lasting, but not necessarily serious in the sense of being immediately life-threatening.
- Acute: Describes a condition or symptom that is severe and sudden in onset, and which is often serious.
- Emergency: A serious, unexpected situation that requires immediate action, often involving medical intervention.
Etymology
The term serious comes from the Latin word serius, which means "grave" or "earnest". It entered the English language in the late 15th century, and its medical usage began in the 18th century.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Serious
- Wikipedia's article - Serious
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