Tag: TREATMENT
Urinary Incontinence and Voiding Dysfunction
The function of the bladder is to store urine that is produced in the kidneys and transported to the bladder via the ureters (tubes leading from the kidneys to the bladder). The bladder should store urine effortlessly and painlessly until a socially appropriate situation arises for its evacuation. Voiding (urinating) should be voluntary, painless, and [...]
Turner Syndrome
Turner syndrome (TS), alternately referred to as Turner’s syndrome, monosomy X, and gonadal dysgenesis, was first described in 1938 by Dr. Henry Turner in a case report of several girls with short stature, no secondary sexual characteristics, arms that bent outwards at the elbows (called cubitus valgus), neck webbing, and a low posterior hairline. These [...]
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, multisystem disease with a wide variety of symptoms. The primary immunological defect is the production of antibodies against one’s own self. These molecules cause tissue injury principally in the skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system, heart, and the lungs and surrounding linings. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus affects 1 in 2,000 [...]
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of unknown cause that mostly involves the tear glands of the eye and salivary glands of the mouth. It can also cause problems in the lining of the genital, urinary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts. Sjogren’s syndrome occurs alone or as part of many other autoimmune disorders. The [...]
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual function The study of sexual function in women, while still in its infancy, has evolved beyond early conceptualizations that focused on mystery and possible associations with witchcraft to psychological explanations that developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. The psychiatric evolution came to fruition in the 20th century with Freudian theories where treatment centered [...]
Regional Rheumatic Pain
Regional rheumatic pain is a family of syndromes including tendonitis, tenosynovitis, and bursitis. These conditions, although commonly seen in medical practice, are challenging to diagnose. They are usually diagnosed without laboratory testing or x-rays. These conditions of the musculoskeletal system are the result of repetitive overuse along with abnormal body position or mechanics. Tendons, which [...]
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer refers to a heterogeneous (diverse) group of diseases. The most common form of ovarian cancer, the epithelial ovarian cancers, tends to occur in women after the age of 50. This type of ovarian cancer was highly publicized with the diagnosis and death of actress and comedienne, Gilda Radner. it is this form of [...]
Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and reduced bone strength, with increased risk of fractures. The term osteopenia means low bone mass, which is one aspect of osteoporosis. Osteopenia is often used to describe a mild form of osteoporosis because osteoporosis is diagnosed primarily by low bone density. Several [...]
Nausea
Nausea is a common symptom that is associated with a wide variety of conditions. Nausea is an unpleasant sensation in the upper abdomen often referred to as “queasiness,” which is usually accompanied by an urge to vomit. Vomiting, usually preceded by nausea, is defined as the forceful ejection of stomach contents up to and out [...]
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders, previously called affective disorders, include a number of psychiatric diagnoses where the major symptom is a disturbance of mood. Most individuals experience a wide range of emotional states from sadness and grief to elation. Even the most extreme mood states do not usually interfere with daily functioning for a prolonged period of time. [...]
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried around in the adult deer tick, Ixodes dammini. It begins as a slowly expanding skin rash and is associated with a tick bite or potential exposure to ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began surveillance for Lyme disease [...]
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. An international consensus of Irritable bowel syndrome specialists has defined Irritable bowel syndrome as “a combination of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms which are not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities.” Although causes of Irritable [...]
Human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be the most common viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in this country. As many as 30 million Americans are infected with Human papillomavirus, and each year, an additional 1 million people become infected. More than 80 distinct types of Human papillomavirus have been identified; at least 20 of them can [...]
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders (ED) are classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) on the basis of symptom clusters, characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior and excessive concern about body shape or weight. Patients generally deny symptoms, are reluctant to seek help despite significant medical and psychiatric comorbidity, and are [...]
Dyspareunia
Pain during or after sexual intercourse is called dyspareunia. Women with dyspareunia may experience pain in the labia, clitoris, vagina, or deep in the pelvis. There are many causes of dyspareunia, and most can be treated successfully. The pain of dyspareunia can vary from superficial pain at penile entry of the vagina, to deeper pain [...]
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined as severe fatigue of 6 months or longer, with no medical explanation. Four or more of the following eight symptoms must also have been present over the past 6 months, starting after the fatigue: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle pain, joint [...]
Cervical Cancer
Cancer of the uterine cervix is an important worldwide health problem. The cervix is the opening of the uterus at the top of the vagina. Death rates in the developing countries from this disease are similar to death rates from breast cancer and lung cancer. In the developed nations, the widespread use of screening tests [...]