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cachexia
noun
ca·chex·ia
kə-ˈkek-sē-ə
ka-
: general physical wasting and malnutrition usually associated with chronic disease
Examples of cachexia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In cancer patients, a syndrome called cachexia causes changes in metabolism and appetite.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2024
Various health conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, spinal cord atrophy, cachexia from cancer, severe burns, or nerve damage from diabetes can also cause muscle wasting.
—Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 30 July 2024
The board has added just one condition through the process so far, approving cachexia, or wasting syndrome, in 2020.
—Jackie Borchardt, The Enquirer, 14 May 2021
One of the first alarming signs of cancer is cachexia, or unintentional weight loss.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 24 Mar. 2023
Before Wednesday, the board had added just one condition through the process so far, approving cachexia, or wasting syndrome, in 2020.
—Jackie Borchardt, The Enquirer, 10 June 2021
The Ohio State Medical Board approved adding cachexia, a wasting syndrome marked by severe weight loss, to the 21 conditions for which patients can treat with medical marijuana if recommended by a physician.
—Jackie Borchardt, The Enquirer, 8 July 2020
Patients with cachexia can lose their appetites, which makes their symptoms worse.
—cleveland, 25 June 2020
Laura Hancock reports that cachexia (pronounced kuh-KEK-see-uh) occurs as a result of other diseases -- such as cancer, HIV and AIDs, kidney or heart failure or advanced kidney disease.
—Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 26 June 2020
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin, borrowed from Greek kachexía, from kakós "bad, poor" + héxis "possession, condition, state" (from hech-, the base of échō, échein "to possess, keep, be in a giveen state" + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at caco-, scheme entry 1
First Known Use
circa 1538, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cachexia
Cite this Entry
“Cachexia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cachexia. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
cachexia
noun
ca·chex·ia
kə-ˈkek-sē-ə, ka-
variants
also cachexy
plural cachexias also cachexies
: general physical wasting and malnutrition usually associated with chronic disease
More from Merriam-Webster on cachexia
Britannica English: Translation of cachexia for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cachexia
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