Glossary
Terms
D
- Diaphragm
- A muscle that sits below the lungs; when it contracts it helps the lungs expand and take a breath in
- Diastole
- The period of time when the heart is relaxing, filling with blood and
getting ready to contract again
- Diastolic blood pressure
- (the bottom number of the reading) is measured during diastole.
- Diffusing capacity (also known as DLCO)
- One of the PFTs which measures how well oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer from the air in your lungs into the bloodstream and vice versa.
- Diffusion impairment
- A characteristic of gas exchange in PAH in which the movement of oxygen from alveoli to capillaries is reduced
- Diuretics
- Medications used to rid the body of excess fluid
- Dyspnea
- Shortness of breath, or any uncomfortable sensation of breathings; typically worsens with exertion