K-L-M-N-O-P
KIDNEY STONES
The presence of gravel or stones in the kidneys. May be symptomless until stones become dislodged. If this occurs, excruciating pain sometimes accompanied by fever, nausea and urinary frequency may develop.
LARYNGITIS
Inflammation of larynx, which may be due to bacterial or viral infection. Hoarseness, painful coughing and difficulty in breathing may develop.
LEAKY GUT
Inflammatory condition in which the intestinal tissues become semi-permeable, and can cause a wide range of disorders affecting the digestive, nervous, respiratory or immune systems.
MACULAR DEGENERATION
Degeneration of the macula (image focus area of the retina), the 2 most common types being the atrophic or ‘dry’ form and the neovascular or ‘wet’ form. Both can lead to severe loss of vision.
MENIERES DISEASE
A disorder of the inner ear, characterised by recurrent vertigo, ringing in the ears and progressive deafness.
MENOPAUSE
The transitional stage in a woman’s life when the ovaries do not produce egg cells every month and menstruation ceases. The average age is about 51 years and symptoms may include hot flushes, headaches, palpitations, depression and insomnia.
MENSTRUAL DISORDERS
Covers a wide range of conditions including Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation), Metrorrhagia ( bleeding between menstrual periods) and Premenstrual tension.
MOUTH ULCERS
Inflamed spot or group of spots in the mucous membranes lining the mouth.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
A chronic, progressive nervous system disease in which involves damage to myelin sheaths that surround nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Onset age is usually between 20-40 years of age and symptoms may include visual disturbances, speech defects, weakness of limbs and unsteady gait.
NEURALGIA
Irritation of a nerve which can cause symptoms of tingling to intense pain along the path of a nerve.
OBESITY
A condition is which excess fat has accumulated in the body, mostly in the subcutaneous tissues. Obesity is usually considered to be present when a person’s body weight is 20% above the recommended weight for his/her height & build. The primary causes of obesity are insulin resistance and the consequent hyperinsulinaemia.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
A degenerative disease of joints resulting from, wear of the articular cartilage, which may lead to secondary changes in the underlying bone. It can be primary or it can occur secondarily to abnormal load to the joint or damage to the cartilage from inflammation or trauma. The joints may be painful & stiff with restricted movement. It is more prevalent in weight-bearing joints such as those of the knees, hip, ankles, elbows, wrists, spine, and shoulder.
OSTEOPOROSIS
A condition of where bones become porous, brittle & liable to fracture as a result of a decrease in bone tissue mass. Generalised osteoporosis is common in the elderly, & in women often following the menopause.
OTITIS MEDIA – Children
Inflammation, usually due to a viral or bacterial infection of the middle ear. It is usually secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection. It is common in young children from 3 months to 3 years. The first complaint is usually of a persistent severe earache. Hearing loss may occur along with fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and drainage from the ear. Babies may become irritable, fussy or have difficulty in sleeping, feeding or hearing. Perforation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) is major complication.
PAIN
An unpleasant sensation ranging from mild discomfort to agonized distress. It involves Nerve Impulses that are generated as a result of injury or threat of injury to body tissues.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
A chronic degenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System that is associated with ageing. Is characterized by a fine slowly spreading tremor, muscular weakness & rigidity. Other features include a mask-like expressionless face, dementia and numbness and tingling.
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)
An acute or chronic condition in which the uterus, fallopian tubes, & ovaries are infected. The inflammation is the result of infection spreading from an adjacent infected organ (such as the appendix) or ascending from the vagina. The main feature is lower abdominal pain that may, at times, be severe.
PERIDONTAL DISEASE
Is inflammation or degeneration of tissues that surround and support the teeth: gingiva, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum. Peridontal disease most commonly begins as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums as a response to plaque on adjacent teeth) and progresses to periodontitis.
PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA
Is a form of anaemia resulting from vitamin B12 deficiency. It results either form failure to produce the intrinsic factor that facilitates absorption of Vitamin B12 from the bowel or from a dietary deficiency of the vitamin. In severe cases the nervous system is affected.
PLEURISY
Inflammation of the pleura, the sac that encloses & protects the lungs is often due to pneumonia. Is characterised by coughing, wheezing and pain upon inspiration. May be occupational (asbestosis or "black lung"), infectious, injury-related, or of unknown aetiology. The normally shiny & slippery pleura surfaces lose their sheen & become slightly sticky. Pleurisy is always associated with some other disease in the lung, chest wall, diaphragm, or abdomen.
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)
A hormonal disorder characterized by incomplete development of the Graafian follicles in the ovary due to inadequate secretion of luteinizing hormone; the follicles fail to ovulate & remain as multiple cysts distending the ovary. PCOS is commonly associated with insulin resistance. Additional hormone imbalance results in obesity, hirsutism, & acne & the woman may become have reduced fertility due to the lack of ovulation.
POLYCYNTHEMIA VERA
Is a disease in which the number of red cells in the blood is greatly increased. There is often also an increase in the numbers of white blood cells & platelets. Signs & symptoms include weakness, headache, light-headedness, visual disturbances, fatigue, high blood pressure, dyspnoea, pruritis, red face and thrombosis. These signs & symptoms are due to the expanded blood volume & hyperviscosity
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Postpartum depression generally occurs 12-72 hours following childbirth.
PRE-ECLAMPSIA (TOXAEMIA OF PREGNANCY)
Pregnancy-induced hypertension – high blood pressure (>140/90) developing during pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure was previously normal. It is often accompanied by excessive fluid retention (oedema) & less often by the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria).
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME
A condition of nervousness, irritability, emotional disturbance, headache, &/or depression affecting some women for up to about ten days before menstruation. The condition is associated with the accumulation of salt & water in the tissues. It usually disappears soon after menstruation begins. The hormone progesterone is believed to be a causative element & a deficiency of essential fatty acids has also been observed.
PSORIASIS
A chronic skin disease in which scaly pink patches (excessive development of epithelial cells) form on the elbows, knees, scalp, & other parts of the body.
