Ovarian Cysts
March 24, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
An ovarian cyst is any collection of fluid, surrounded by a very thin wall, within an ovary. Any ovarian follicle that is larger than about two centimeters is termed an ovarian cyst. An ovarian cyst can be as small as a pea, or larger than an orange.
Most ovarian cysts are functional in nature, and harmless (benign). In the US, ovarian cysts are found in nearly all premenopausal women, and in up to 14.8% of postmenopausal women.
Osteopenia
March 24, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
Osteopenia is a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal. It is considered by many doctors to be a precursor to osteoporosis. However, not every person diagnosed with osteopenia will develop osteoporosis. More specifically, osteopenia is defined as a bone mineral density T-score between -1.0 and -2.5.
Osteoarthritis
March 24, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
Osteoarthritis (OA, also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease), is a group of diseases and mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it. Clinical manifestations of OA may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, creaking, locking of joints, and sometimes local inflammation. In OA, a variety of potential forces—hereditary, developmental, metabolic, and mechanical—may initiate processes leading to loss of cartilage — a strong protein matrix that lubricates and cushions the joints. As the body struggles to contain ongoing damage, immune and regrowth processes can accelerate damage. When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, subchondral bone may be exposed and damaged, with regrowth leading to a proliferation of ivory-like, dense, reactive bone in central areas of cartilage loss, a process called eburnation. The patient increasingly experiences pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing. As a result of decreased movement because of the pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments may become more lax. OA is the most common form of arthritis, and the leading cause of chronic disability in the United States.
Oromandibular Dystonia
March 24, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
Oromandibular dystonia is a form of focal dystonia affecting the mouth, jaw, and tongue.
Botulinum toxin has been used in treatment.
Oral Herpes (Herpes labialis)
March 24, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
Herpes labialis (also known as “Orolabial herpes”) is an infection of the lip by herpes simplex virus. In many cases, it causes small blisters or sores on or around the mouth that are commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters. Sores associated with herpes labialis typically heal within 2-3 weeks, but the virus that causes them is not removed from the body. The herpes virus infects and becomes dormant in the facial nerves, following orofacial infection, periodically reactivating (in symptomatic people) to create sores in the same area of the mouth or face that the original infection occurred.

