vasodilator

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Word: Vasodilator

Definition: A vasodilator is a type of medicine (or drug) that helps to widen (or dilate) blood vessels in the body. When blood vessels are wider, it allows more blood to flow through them, which can help lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• How to Use: You can use "vasodilator" when talking about medicines or treatments that affect blood flow and blood pressure.

Example Sentence:

• "The doctor prescribed a vasodilator to help manage her high blood pressure."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical discussions, you might hear terms like "systemic vasodilator," which refers to a drug that affects blood vessels throughout the whole body, or "selective vasodilator," which targets specific blood vessels.

Word Variants:

• Vasodilation (noun): The process of blood vessels widening.
  • Example: "Vasodilation can occur naturally when you exercise."
• Vasodilatory (adjective): Related to the action of widening blood vessels.
  • Example: "The vasodilatory effects of the medication were noticeable shortly after taking it."

Different Meaning:

• In a more general sense, "vasodilator" refers specifically to substances that cause dilation of blood vessels. It does not have a broader meaning outside of medical contexts.

Synonyms:

• Blood vessel dilator
• Relaxant (in the context of blood vessels)
• Antihypertensive (in some cases, as it helps lower blood pressure)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "vasodilator," as it is a technical term primarily used in medical language. However, you might encounter phrases like "open up the blood vessels," which convey a similar idea in more common language.

Summary:

A vasodilator is a drug that helps blood vessels widen, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

Academic

Noun

1. a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels

Synonyms

• vasodilative