Category: I

Another name for urge incontinence, which refers to the involuntary loss of urine immediately after the need to urinate is felt. Bladder condition marked by increased frequency of contraction with an associated desire to urinate. Occasional, involuntary muscle contractions in the bladder wall that can lead to urge incontinence. An irritable bladder can be triggered…

Stunting of fetal development. Newborns weighing less than 5 pounds and measuring less than 18 inches in length are considered to have intrauterine growth retardation (lUGR). This condition is usually caused by problems limiting the ability of the placenta to deliver nutrients to the fetus. Intrauterine growth retardation is associated with severe preeclampsia, high blood…

A small benign tumor growing in the cells lining a breast duct. Symptoms include a discharge from the nipple; the discharge may be clear and sticky, greenish yellow, or bloody. A discharge is normal in women who have recently been pregnant, but other women experiencing a nipple discharge should see their doctors right away. Because…

A small semicircle of plastic surgically implanted within the clear, surface layer (cornea) of the eye to treat nearsightedness. The ring spreads the cornea’s layers apart, flattening its overall curve and reducing its focusing power. In most cases, this reduction decreases or eliminates nearsightedness by refocusing light onto the retina, rather than in front of…

An abnormality in which the leg or foot is slightly rotated, forcing the toes and foot to point inward. Many babies are born with feet that turn in. Intoeing is usually not a serious problem, often correcting itself by about age 7. Severe cases may require surgery.  

Abnormal growths in the small or large intestine that may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).  

A disease in which the lung tissue becomes damaged by a known or unknown cause that produces inflammation of the lungs’ air sac walls, which ultimately scars the interstitium (the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs). Interstitial fibrosis of the lung causes the tissue of the lung or lungs themselves to thicken and…

A peptide hormone made by most tissues of the body and believed to be secreted by the liver and released into the bloodstream. Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) is involved in various biological activities in the cells. These activities include mitosis (normal cell division) and may be similar to the action of insulin. IGF-I is…

Nonmedical or medical therapy for individuals who are unable or have a diminished capacity to conceive. When a specific disease or disorder that causes infertility is diagnosed, a physician may treat the underlying disorder. Some conditions are treatable only with assisted reproductive technology (ART).  

A painful condition of the shoulder. Impingement syndrome is caused by repeated overhead movement of the arm, abnormal anatomy of the shoulder, or a combination of the two. Symptoms of impingement syndrome may include pain, stiffness, and a pinched feeling when the arm is raised. If bursitis (inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder) is…