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Adenocarcinoma: cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have gland-like properties. Almost all prostate cancers are adenocarcinoma.
(www.phoenix5.org/glossary/adenocarcinoma.html)
Allergies: an overreaction of the immune system to substances that usually cause no reaction in most individuals. These substances can trigger sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching. Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked to a variety of common and serious chronic respiratory illnesses (such as sinusitis and asthma). Additionally, allergic reactions can be severe and even fatal. However, with proper management and patient education, allergic diseases can be controlled, and people with allergies can lead normal and productive lives.
(www.aafa.org)
Anaphylaxis: a severe allergic reaction that may involve the entire body. It can result in trouble breathing, loss of consciousness and even death. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment, and later follow up care by an allergist/immunologist.
(www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisanaphylaxis.stm)
Apthous ulcers: sores which can occur on the inside surface of your cheeks, on your tongue,or in your throat.. The exact cause of apthous ulcers is unknown. Some reports suggest that these ulcers are caused by a virus.
(www.tthhivclinic.com/apthulc.htm)
Atelectasis: a state in which the lung, in whole or in part, is collapsed or without air. It is a condition where the alveoli are deflated, as distinct from pulmonary consolidation.
(http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/atelectasis)
Chemical Sensitivitiy: people who are physically injured by chemicals (chemical injury) become subsequently hypersensitive to chemcials (chemically sensitive, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), environmentally ill). One toxic event or low level exposures to chemicals over time can cause this. The injury occurs when the overall toxic load has gone past the body's limit of coping.
(www.snowcrest.net/lassen/mcsei.html)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a disorder that causes extreme fatigue. This fatigue is not the kind of tired feeling that goes away after you rest. Instead, it lasts a long time and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities. Symptoms of CFS include fatigue for 6 months or more and experiencing other problems such as muscle pain, memory problems, headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep problems, sore throat and tender lymph nodes. Since other illnesses can cause similar symptoms, CFS is hard to diagnose.
(www.cdc.gov/cfs/)
Cirrhosis: characterized anatomically by widespread nodules in the liver combined with fibrosis. The fibrosis and nodule formation causes distortion of the normal liver architecture which interferes with blood flow through the liver. Cirrhosis can also lead to an inability of the liver to perform its biochemical functions. To understand the pathophysiology of cirrhosis, the normal anatomy and physiology of the liver must first be briefly reviewed.
(http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/cirrhosis.html)
Contact Dermatitis: dermatitis is an inflammation of the upper layers of the skin causing rash, blisters, scabbing, redness and swelling. Contact dermatitis is a reaction, which occurs when skin comes in contact with certain substances. Two mechanisms exist by which substances can cause skin inflammation - Irriatation (Irritant contact dermatitis) or Allergic reaction (Allergic contact dermatitis). Common irritants include soap, detergents, acids, alkalis and organic solvents (as are present in nail varnish remover). Contact dermatitis is most often seen around the hands or areas that touched or were exposed to the irritant/ allergen . Contact dermatitis of the feet also exists but differs in that it is due to the warm, moist conditions in the shoes and socks. An allergic reaction does not generally occur the first time one is exposed to a particular substance but on subsequent exposures , which can cause dermatitis in 4 to 24 hours. Treatment includes removal or avoidance of the substance causing the irritation, cleansing the area with water and mild soap (to avoid infection). A recent recommendation for mild cases is to use a manganese sulfate solution to reduce the itching. Antihistamines are generally not very helpful. The most common treatment for severe contact dermatitis is with corticosteroid tablets, ointments or creams, which diminish the immune attack and resulting inflammation. (www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/Allergy/Glossary/dermatitis.html)
Effusions: the escape of fluid from the blood vessels or lymphatics into the tissues or a cavity.
(http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/effusions)
Endometriosis: disease characterized by the presence of tissue which is histologically identical to endometrium (the inner lining of the uterine wall) outside the uterine cavity. It is one of the most complex and least understood diseases in gynecology and, despite many theories, gynecologists still do not have a clear understanding of the cause or of its relationship to infertility. Although endometriosis has been considered a pathological or separate disease entity, it may not be a disease at all. It may actually be the clinical manifestation of a more basic underlying disorder, such as a basic chemical or physiological abnormality that affects the tubal motility or immune system which could be responsible for the initiation or progression of endometriosis in patients with retrograde menstrual flow. By the same token, endometriosis may not be the cause of infertility, but the result of it. Historically, it has been shown that sometimes our understanding of a disease has awaited the technology to explain it. This may very well be the case with endometriosis, especially in regard to its immunological aspects. Further technological developments may be necessary in order for us to fully understand this problem.
(www.bioscience.org/books/endomet/end01-33.htm)
Fibroid: noncancerous growth of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. As many as three out of four women have uterine fibroids, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms. A doctor may discover them incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.
(www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DS00078)
Fibromyalgia: primary symptoms include widespread musculoskeletal pain, severe fatigue, and disturbed sleep. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons – the soft fibrous tissues in the body. Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. Their muscles may feel like they were pulled or overworked. Sometimes fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle twitches and burning sensations. More women than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, and it shows up in people of all ages. A conservative estimate of its prevalence is 2% of the general population, but it may be as high as 3-5%.
(www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php)
Glomerulonephritis: is a type of kidney disease that hampers your kidneys' ability to remove waste and excess fluids. Also called glomerular disease, glomerulonephritis can be acute, referring to a sudden attack of inflammation, or chronic, which comes on gradually. Glomerular disease can be part of a systemic disease, such as lupus or diabetes, or it can be a disease by itself – primary glomerulonephritis. Treatment depends on the type of glomerulonephritis you have.
(www.mayoclinic.com/health/glomerulonephritis/DS00503)
Hypothyroidism: a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to "run the body's metabolism", it is understandable that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism. Over five million Americans have this common medical condition.
(www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html)
Jaundice: a yellow color in the skin, the mucous membranes, or the eyes. The yellow pigment is from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. If you’ve ever had a bruise, you may have noticed that the skin went through a series of color changes as it healed. When you saw yellow in the bruise, you were seeing bilirubin. Normally, about 1% of our red blood cells retire every day, to be replaced by fresh red blood cells. The old ones are processed in the liver and disposed of. Much of the resulting bilirubin leaves the body in the stool.
(www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003243.htm)
Jawbone Osteitis: inflammation of the jaw bone. (see Cavitation.)
Lipoma: benign growths composed of fat that usually occur under the skin, but have also been found in deeper tissues and even in various body organs, such as the heart, brain, and lung. They can vary from walnut size to that of a large baseball and usually have a soft, rubbery feel. Most arise after the age of 30.
(http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/901217346.html)
Mesothelioma: a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma)
Osteomyelitis: a bacterial infection of bone and bone marrow in which the resulting inflammation can lead to a reduction of blood supply to the bone.
(www.thefreedictionary.com/osteomyelitis)
Osteopenia: a condition where bones have become less dense than normal, but not as severely as in osteoporosis. A person with osteopenia is at risk for getting osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bones to be more fragile but rarely causes pain - unless you actually break a bone.
(www.med.umich.edu/1libr/guides/osteo.htm)
Pancreatitis: a condition in which the digestive enzymes of the pancreas attack the pancreas, causing pain, nausea, fever, bleeding, swelling and damage to the pancreas. With acute pancreatitis, the symptoms will go away on their own. With chronic pancreatitis, the symptoms linger for months or even years.
(www.bidmc.harvard.edu/display.asp?node_id=690)
Periodontal Disease: a disease of the mouth that begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed. In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
(www.perio.org/consumer/proto2/healthygums.htm)
Peritoneal Implant: present in stage III ovarian cancer. The peritoneal cavity is the space within the abdomen that contains the intestines, the stomach, and the liver; it is a common site of metastatic spread for many malignancies. For example, approximately 71%, 17%, and 10% of patients with ovarian, gastric, and colorectal cancer, respectively, have peritoneal metastases at the time of initial presentation. Peritoneal metastases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. A review of several studies involving patients with a variety of underlying primary tumors showed the median survival after a diagnosis of malignant ascites was 1–8 months. The median survival of patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer is 9 months.
(http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/223/2/495#BDY)
Pink Eye: an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. The cause of pink eye is commonly a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction or — in newborns — an incompletely opened tear duct. Pink eye may make you feel as if you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you just can't remove. When you wake up in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from the discharge coming from your eyes. The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as clearly as you did before. Inflammation causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, resulting in a pink or red cast to the whites of your eyes. Pink eye and red eye are terms commonly used to refer to all types of conjunctivitis. Though the inflammation of pink eye makes it an irritating condition, it rarely affects your sight. If you suspect pink eye, you can take steps to ease your discomfort. But because pink eye can be contagious, it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.
(www.mayoclinic.com/health/pink-eye/DS00258)
Pleural Effusion: the lungs are covered by a membrane or lining, called the pleura, which has an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer covers the lungs. The outer layer lines the rib cage and diaphragm, which is a sheet of muscle, which separates the chest from the abdomen. The pleura produces a fluid, which acts as a lubricant that helps you to breathe easily, allowing the lungs to move in and out smoothly. Sometimes too much of this fluid can build up between the two layers of the pleura: this is called a pleural effusion.
(www.cancerbackup.org.uk)
Porphyria: a group of different disorders caused by abnormalities in the chemical steps leading to the production of heme, a substance that is important in the body. The largest amounts of heme are in the blood and bone marrow, where it carries oxygen. Heme is also found in the liver and other tissues. Multiple enzymes are needed for the body to produce heme. If any one of the enzymes is abnormal, the process cannot continue and the intermediate products, porphyrin or its precursors, may build up and be excreted in the urine and stool. The porphyria disorders can be grouped by symptoms—whether they affect the skin or the nervous system. The cutaneous porphyrias affect the skin. People with cutaneous porphyria develop blisters, itching, and swelling of their skin when it is exposed to sunlight. The acute porphyrias affect the nervous system. Symptoms of acute porphyria include pain in the chest, abdomen, limbs, or back; muscle numbness, tingling, paralysis, or cramping; vomiting; constipation; and personality changes or mental disorders. These symptoms appear intermittently. The porphyrias are inherited conditions, and the genes for all enzymes in the heme pathway have been identified. Some forms of porphyria result from inheriting an abnormal gene from one parent (autosomal dominant). Other forms are from inheriting an abnormal gene from each parent (autosomal recessive). The risk that individuals in an affected family will have the disease or transmit it to their children is quite different depending on the type. Attacks of porphyria can develop over hours or days and last for days or weeks. Porphyria can be triggered by drugs (barbiturates, tranquilizers, birth control pills, sedatives), chemicals, fasting, smoking, drinking alcohol, infections, emotional and physical stress, menstrual hormones, and exposure to the sun. Porphyria is diagnosed through blood, urine, and stool tests. Diagnosis may be difficult because the range of symptoms is common to many disorders and interpretation of the tests may be complex. Each form of porphyria is treated differently. Treatment may involve treating with heme, giving medicines to relieve the symptoms, or drawing blood. People who have severe attacks may need to be hospitalized.
(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/porphyria/index.htm)
Pyelonephritis: a kidney infection, usually from bacteria that have spread from the bladder.
(http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelonephritis)
Sciatica: pain, weakness, numbness, and other discomfort along the path of the sciatic nerve -- often accompanies low back pain, which afflicts every adult from time to time, costing billions of dollars in healthcare and more lost days of work than anything but the common cold. Low back pain and sciatica can baffle physicians and other medical professionals, arising without warning and continuing for long periods of time. Sciatica is a symptom of a problem at some point along the sciatic nerve rather than an ailment in and of itself. A herniated disc in the back, spinal stenosis and piriformis syndrome are medical disorders that can cause sciatica. Individuals who have sciatica are often crippled by it, and are driven to seek relief from conventional medical treatment, alternative therapies, and "miracle" cures.
(www.sciatica.org)
Sjogren's Syndrome: a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it is a systemic disease, affecting many organs and may cause fatigue. It is one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders, striking as many as four million Americans.
(www.sjogrens.org)
Syncope: a faint; temporary loss of consciousness due to generalized cerebral ischemia.
(http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Syncope)
Tachycardia: excessively rapid heartbeat.
(www.factmonster.com/ipd/A0685003.html&id=67.160.137.220)
TMJ Diseases/Disorders: temporomandibular joint diseases and disorders, commonly called TMJ, are a collection of poorly understood conditions characterized by pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues and limitations in jaw movements. Injury and conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as Arthritis, also affect the temporomandibular joint.
(www.tmj.org/basics.asp)
Tonsilitis: an inflammation of the tonsils caused by an infection. In tonsillitis, the tonsils are enlarged, red, and often coated (either partly or entirely) by a substance that is yellow, gray, or white. Tonsillitis usually occurs as part of a pharyngitis (throat infection). Tonsilitis usually begins with sudden sore throat and painful swallowing. Sometimes, tonsillitis reoccurs, and may cause difficulty breathing. If this occurs, your doctor may recommend taking them out. This procedure of removing tonsils from the throat is called a tonsillectomy.
(www.mamashealth.com/tonsillitis.asp)
Toxic Ambylopia: a reduction in visual acuity believed to be due to a toxic reaction in the orbital portion (papillomacular bundle) of the optic nerve. It is caused by multiple toxic and nutritional factors and probably other unknown factors. The symptom is painless vision loss. Diagnosis is by history and visual field examination. Treatment is avoiding suspected toxic agents and improving nutrition.
(www.merck.com/mmpe/sec09/ch107/ch107f.html?qt=toxic%20ambylopia&alt=sh)
Type 2 Diabetes: a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems: Right away, your cells may be starved for energy. Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
(www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.jsp)
Urinary Tract Infections: an infection caused by bacteria in the urethra. Normally, urine is sterile. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi but does contain fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection occurs when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. Most infections arise from one type of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon. In many cases, bacteria first travel to the urethra. When bacteria multiply, an infection can occur. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. If bacteria move to the bladder and multiply, a bladder infection, called cystitis, results. If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may then travel further up the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys. A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis.
(http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/)
Uterine Fibroid: noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during your childbearing years. Also called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer. As many as three out of four women have uterine fibroids, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover them incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound. In general, uterine fibroids cause no problems and seldom require treatment. Medical therapy and surgical procedures can shrink or remove fibroids if you have discomfort or troublesome symptoms. Rarely, fibroids can require emergency treatment if they cause sudden, sharp pelvic pain.
(www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DS00078)
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