Glossary

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable, typically in the evenings while you’re sitting or lying down. It makes you feel like getting up and moving around. When you do so, the unpleasant feeling of restless legs syndrome temporarily goes away.

Restless Legs Syndrome can begin at any age and generally worsens as you age. Restless Legs Syndrome can disrupt sleep – leading to daytime drowsiness – and make traveling difficult.

A number of simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes may help you. Medications also help many people with Restless Legs Syndrome.

Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

Retroperitoneal Fibrosis or Ormond’s Disease is a disease featuring the proliferation of fibrous tissue in the retroperitoneum, the compartment of the body containing the kidneys,aorta, renal tract, and various other structures. It may present with lower back pain, renal failure, hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, and other obstructive symptoms. It is named after John Kelso Ormond, who rediscovered the condition in 1948.

Rhematoid Fever

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop as a complication of inadequately treated strep throat. Strep throat is caused by infection with group A streptococcus bacteria.

Rheumatic fever is most common in 5 to 15 year old children, though it can develop in younger children and adults. Although it’s very rare in United States and other developed countries, rheumatic fever remains common in many developing nations.

Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart, including damaged heart valves and heart failure. Treatments can reduce tissue damage from inflammation, lessen pain and other symptoms, and prevent the recurrence of rheumatic fever.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues & organs, but principally attacks small joints. It can be a disabling & painful condition, which can lead to substantial loss of functioning & mobility if not adequately treated.

The process involves an inflammatory response of the capsule around the joints secondary to swelling of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, & the development of fibrous tissue in the synovium. The pathology of the disease process often leads to the destruction of articular cartilage and ankylosis (fusion) of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, membrane around the heart, the membranes of the lung, and white of the eye, and also nodular lesions, most common in subcutaneous tissue.

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of your body — most commonly the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin.

Doctors believe sarcoidosis results from the body’s immune system responding to an unknown substance, most likely something inhaled from the air. There is no cure for sarcoidosis, but most people do very well with modest treatment. Sarcoidosis often goes away on its own. Alternatively, signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis may last for years and sometimes lead to organ damage.

Sciatica

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve – which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.

Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk or a bone spur on the spine compresses part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most cases resolve with just conservative treatments in a few weeks. People who continue to have severe sciatica after six weeks of treatment might be helped by surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve.

Scleritis

Scleritis is a serious inflammatory disease that affects the white outer coating of the eye, known as the sclera. The disease is often contracted through association with other diseases of the body, such as Wegener’s granulomatosis or rheumatoid arthritis; it can also be attained through disorders of menstruation. For this reason, scleritis occurs frequently among young women. There are three types of scleritis: diffuse scleritis (the most common), nodular scleritis, and necrotizing scleritis (the most severe). Scleritis may be the first symptom of onset of connective tissue disease.

Episcleritis is inflammation of the episclera, a less serious condition that seldom develops into scleritis.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma (skleer-oh-DUR-muh) is a group of rare, progressive diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues – the fibers that provide the framework and support for your body.

Localized scleroderma affects only the skin. Systemic scleroderma also harms internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and digestive tract.

Scleroderma can happen to anyone at any time in any geographical area. However, the disease affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Scleroderma can run in families, but in most cases it occurs without any known family tendency for the disease. Scleroderma isn’t considered contagious, but it can greatly affect self-esteem and the ability to accomplish everyday tasks.

Seizures

Epilepsy is a disorder that results from the surges in electrical signals inside the brain, causing recurring seizures. Seizure symptoms vary. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others have full-fledged convulsions.

About 2 in 100 people in the United States will experience an unprovoked seizure once in life. However, a solitary seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.

Even mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Treatment – which generally includes medications and sometimes surgery – usually eliminates or reduces the frequency and intensity of seizures. Many children with epilepsy even outgrow the condition with age.

Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis) causes the cavities around your nasal passages (sinuses) to become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up.

With acute sinusitis, it may be difficult to breathe through your nose. The area around your eyes and face may feel swollen, and you may have throbbing facial pain or a headache.

Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers include bacteria, allergies and fungal infections. Treatment of acute sinusitis depends on the cause. In most cases, home remedies are all that’s needed. However, persistent sinusitis can lead to serious infections and other complications. Sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks, or keeps coming back, is called chronic sinusitis.

Sjogren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s (SHOW-grins) Syndrome is a disorder of your immune system identified by its two most common symptoms – dry eyes and a dry mouth.

Sjogren’s Syndrome often accompanies other immune-system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In Sjogren’s syndrome, the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands of your eyes and mouth are usually affected first – resulting in decreased production of tears and saliva.

Although you can develop Sjogren’s Syndrome at any age, most people are older than 40 at the time of diagnosis. The condition is much more common in women. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, which often subside with time.

Stiff Person Syndrome

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) (or stiff-man syndrome; also known as Moersch-Woltman Condition) is a rare neurologic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by progressive rigidity and stiffness, primarily of the axial musculature, that is superimposed by spasms, resulting in postural deformities. There are also sub-variants: stiff baby syndrome and stiff limb syndrome. Other forms or types of the disease include focal SPS, jerking SPS, and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus.

Stress Hyperglycemia

During digestion, your body breaks down carbohydrates from foods – such as bread, rice and pasta — into various sugar molecules. One of these sugar molecules is glucose, a main energy source for your body. Glucose is absorbed directly into your bloodstream after you eat, but it can’t enter the cells of most of your tissues without the help of insulin – a hormone secreted by your pancreas.

When the level of glucose in your blood rises, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. The insulin, in turn, unlocks your cells so that glucose can enter and provide the fuel your cells need to function properly. Any extra glucose is stored in your liver and muscles in the form of glycogen.

This process lowers the amount of glucose in your bloodstream and prevents it from reaching dangerously high levels. As your blood sugar level returns to normal, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.

Diabetes drastically diminishes the effects of insulin on your body, either because your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (Type 1 Diabetes) or because your body is resistant to the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level (Type 2 Diabetes).

As a result, glucose tends to build up in your bloodstream and may reach dangerously high levels (Hyperglycemia) if not treated properly. Insulin or other drugs are used to lower blood sugar levels.

Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis (SBE)

Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium).

Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart. Left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves and can lead to life-threatening complications. Treatments for endocarditis include antibiotics and, in severe cases, surgery.

Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis is uncommon in people with healthy hearts. People at greatest risk of endocarditis have a damaged heart valve, an artificial heart valve or other heart defects.

Susac’s Syndrome

Susac’s Syndrome (Retinocochleocerebral Vasculopathy) is a microangiopathycharacterized by encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusions and hearing loss. It is caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue, and can lead to mental disorders.