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Wellness
Glossary
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Obesity: Having an excessive amount of body fat. A person is considered obese if
he or she has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater.
Oleylethanolamine (OEA): A fatty acid found in some foods that sends a strong
signal to the brain to stop eating. A powerful satiety factor and appetite
suppressant.
Opiate: Pain-killing drug chemically related to opium; also called a
narcotic (see Narcotics).
Orthopedic Surgeon: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the
musculoskeletal system.
Osteoarthritis: Also called “degenerative arthritis” mostly affecting
middle-aged and elderly men and women. In some, osteoarthritis may affect
the spine's facet joints, making it extremely painful to bend or twist.
Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to break down and away from the joints.
Stripped of their protective material, the joints begin rubbing against each
other, causing pain and impeding movement. This action further irritates the
surrounding nerves. Advanced forms of spinal osteoarthritis lead to disc
collapse and other problems.
Osteopathic Medicine: Particular attention is paid to muscles, joints,
bones, and nerves through defined osteopathic manipulations.
Osteoporosis: A disease characterized by the loss of bone density,
resulting in brittleness; most commonly affecting the spinal vertebrae, wrists
and hips.
Osteophytes: Additional bone material, or overgrowths, that have been attributed
to a wide variety of ailments. Also called bone spurs, osteophytes are
manufactured by your body in response to a breakdown in existing bony
structures. Sometimes, bone spurs can exert pressure on nerves, and this leads
to pain.
Overload principle: Strength training term that refers to the phenomenon that
muscles only grow in strength if they are pushed to near maximum effort -
overloaded.
Overuse injuries: Injuries that occur during the course of everyday activities,
such as housework or exercise. Symptoms may include pain, muscle spasms, and
stiffness.
Overweight: Carrying too much body fat. (see Obesity)
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Dr. Charles R. Dixon, D.C., F.A.S.A. ~ 903-849-2200