Diseases

ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system: brain, spinal cord, motor neurons. People affected by ALS will become paralyzed, and about 80% of them will die within 5 years of being diagnosed. Death occurs because the person can not breath or swallow because of the paralysis.

Anorexia is a disease that has to do with how the person perceives their weight. People affected by anorexia see themselves as fat even though they may be extremely thin. It primarily affects, but is not limited to, females. About 20% of the people who become affected by anorexia will eventually die from the disease. Individuals affected by this disease are usually very secretive about it, they engage in an enormous amount of calorie burning physical activity, and avoid food.

Bacteria are living single-celled organisms that can be found everywhere on the planet. No matter what you do you can not escape them. The good thing is most of them are harmless, and some of them even necessary for good health. However, there are some that can cause illness.

Almost all organs are constantly involved in catabolism (breakdown) and anabolism (building). This is the process where cells die and new ones are created. In the process of new cells being created is how cancer comes into play. Most times new cells are created by cells dividing and multiplying. This is a necessary and normal process, and most of the time, it takes place without complications. However, for reasons we don't fully understand, once in a while a cell will become damaged during this process. This new damaged cell will no longer be able to function as it was intended, however, it may have the ability to divide and reproduce. Most of the time the body's immune system will detect this 'invader' and will destroy it.

The heart is not the only organ that can fail. But, unlike other organs, the effects of heart failure are immediate and life threatening. The heart is the organ responsible for supplying all the body with blood and nutrients. If this organ fails the situation is critical.

Women may benefit from learning more about COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), now the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.

It's more important than ever before because more women are now affected by the disease. A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that COPD mortality rates are rising even faster among women than men, partly due to women's later surge in smoking, a leading risk factor for COPD, and partly due to an increase among those who have never smoked.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body can't properly store and use fuel for energy. The fuel that your body needs is called glucose, a form of sugar. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.

Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pouches, or diverticula, protrude from a weakened segment of the colon wall. Many people have no symptoms. Others experience occasional mild pain or diarrhea or blood in the stools. But if waste material clogs one or more of the pouches, diverticulitis, an inflammation characterized diverticula by fever, bleeding, intense pain, and general malaise, may develop. If diverticulitis goes untreated, serious complications can arise, such as perforation of the intestine, which may lead to peritonitis, a life-threatening inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.

Emphysema is a chronic condition in which the alveoli, or air sacs, of the lungs have lost their elasticity and become stretched out and filled with stale air. As a result, the tiny blood vessels in the sacs cannot perform their normal function of picking up a fresh supply of oxygen while getting rid of carbon dioxide and other waste products; thus the breathing process is labored and inefficient.

Gallstones are small, hard pellets that form in the gallbladder, the pouch like organ situated just under the liver, in the upper-right portion of the abdomen. Most gallstones are composed of cholesterol crystals, although some are made of bile salts, which are digestive substances manufactured in the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

Gastritis is a stomach inflammation that may produce bleeding, ulceration, and erosion of the lining. Typical symptoms include upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn, and sometimes bleeding. With acute gastritis, the symptoms occur suddenly, caused by an infection, a toxic substance, aspirin and similar drugs, a food allergen, severe stress, surgery, kidney or liver failure, and other serious conditions.

German measles, or rubella, is a mild, highly contagious childhood disease that lasts about three days as a rule, hence its popular name, three-day measles. It is caused by a virus and is sometimes confused with measles, or rubella; both conditions produce a fever, a sore throat, and a splotchy red rash, but the symptoms are more severe and long-lasting in measles.

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and disappears almost immediately after the baby is delivered. As in other forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high, because the woman does not properly metabolize carbohydrates, due either to inadequate insulin or an inability to fully utilize the hormone. The symptoms are often so mild that they may not even be noticed unless her blood sugar is checked periodically. When the mother's blood sugar levels are too high, the fetus produces extra insulin, which acts like a growth hormone during fetal development. The result is an oversized and sickly baby. Excessive fetal insulin also interferes with potassium metabolism, which can lead to potentially fatal arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats.

Gingivitis is an inflammation or infection of the gums, particularly the tissue around the teeth, that is characterized by swelling and bleeding when teeth are being brushed or flossed. The condition can affect anyone at any age but usually appears first during puberty and then persists throughout adult life.

Glaucoma entails a buildup of fluid pressure in the eye's anterior chamber, which lies between the cornea and iris. The eye disease affects about one in 25 Americans, usually after the age of 40. About 85 percent of all cases are chronic open-angle glaucoma, in which the outflow of the clear fluid, called aqueous humor, gradually declines. As the pressure within the anterior chamber increases, the tiny blood vessels that nourish the optic nerve become pinched, causing the nerve to slowly wither and die. The eventual result is blindness. This type of glaucoma may start in one eye and then affect the other eye, with no early warning signs.

Hardening of the arteries is the common term for arteriosclerosis, which refers to any condition in which the walls of arteries thicken and lose their elasticity. To some degree, this disorder is a natural consequence of aging. Often, however, it stems from atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fatty material in the inner surfaces of arteries. These deposits, or plaque, are composed mostly of cholesterol, a waxy substance that circulates in the blood and is an essential component of cell membranes and several hormones.

Some heart attacks are painless and not discovered until an electrocardiogram is taken at a later date. More often, however, a heart attack produces distinct symptoms. These may include:

• A feeling of discomfort, pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the center of the chest, lasting for two minutes or more.
• Pain that spreads throughout the chest and radiates to the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms, or back.
• Dizziness, fainting, sweating, clamminess, nausea, vomiting, and/or shortness of breath.

As I'm sure most of us would like to live a long healthy life I would like to take a minute to give you some advise for things to watch out for. This is not meant to scare anyone but only to make people aware.

The 3 biggest things that we all need to be aware of, as they cause the most deaths in the industrialized world, are heart disease/attack, stroke, and cancer.

An enlarged heart is the most common manifestation of heart muscle disease, or cardiomyopathy. Even so, there are only about 50,000 new cases in the United States annually. Any abnormality of the heart muscle can cause cardiac enlargement, because the heart increases in size to compensate for the muscle weakness. If the expanded muscle is also abnormal, it further reduces the heart's ability to pump blood. Although the entire heart can be affected, the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber, usually becomes the most enlarged part.

This ailment is so common that 25 to 50 million Americans regularly endure its discomforts. It has nothing to do with the heart, but involves a burning pain in the chest that radiates upward into the neck and throat and sometimes the face. Heartburn usually occurs after a meal, especially if the person lies down, and is often accompanied by belching and regurgitation into the mouth of bitter gastric juices, which prompt a flow of extra saliva.

Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by one of four hepatitis viruses -- A, B, C, or D. In its earlier stages, the disease may be mistaken for flu, with fever, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and muscles and joint aches the major symptoms. These are followed by the characteristic jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin due to a buildup in the blood of bile, a digestive substance that the liver normally controls. Excessive bile can also cause severe itchiness and a darkening of urine and the stool becomes light colored.

A hernia develops when an organ or tissue pushes through a weakness in supporting muscles, encroaching on other organs or body structures. There are dozens of different hernias, but those involving the small intestine are the most common. These include:

• Abdominal, in which a portion of small intestine pushes through the abdominal muscle wall.
• Femoral and inguinal, in which the small intestine protrudes into the musculature of the groin, the scrotum in men, or the vagina or other parts of the genitalia in women.
• Rectal, in which the small intestine protrudes into the wall of the rectum.

Other common hernia types include:

• Diaphragmatic, in which the stomach or some other abdominal organ pushes through the diaphragm into the chest.
• Incisional, which develops at the site of an old surgical wound. Umbilical, a swelling near or within the navel, usually in a baby.

Not all hernias are obvious, but those protruding through the abdominal wall usually produce a visible swelling. Mild pain at the site of swelling is common. Men with inguinal hernias may also have swelling in the scrotum.
Most hernias are not serious. But one can be life threatening if a protruding portion of intestine becomes trapped or strangulated and the blood supply is cut off, thus leading to tissue death.

Hernias are more prevalent in premature infants, the elderly, the obese, and people with chronic coughs. A person with bulimia may develop a hernia from repeated vomiting.

Diagnostic Studies and Procedures

A hernia can usually be detected by physical examination. A doctor will press it to determine whether it can be manipulated back to its normal position. X-rays and an ultrasound examination may be ordered to rule out other causes of swelling.

Medical Treatments

Even if a hernia is not producing significant symptoms, doctors generally recommend surgical repair to avoid its enlargement and serious complications. The exception is an umbilical hernia, which almost always disappears on its own by the age of four. Hernia surgery involves removing the hernia's sac and repairing and strengthening the weakened muscle wall. In certain cases, the muscle will be knit together with permanent non-absorbable stitches. Some hernia surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis. Sometimes, however, a short hospital stay is necessary.

Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies are of little value in treating hernias involving the small intestine. If obesity is a factor, a weight-loss diet combined with an exercise program may have a preventive effect.

Physical Therapy. Once recovery from surgery is complete, a physical therapist or sports medicine specialist can design an exercise routine to strengthen abdominal muscles, which will help prevent recurrence. These practitioners also teach posture and lifting techniques to avoid straining the abdominal and back muscles.

Self-Treatment

Do not wear a hernia truss unless instructed to do so by a doctor. If your hernia protrudes while you await surgery, gently push it back into place. This is best done when lying down. Avoid heavy lifting, straining, and sudden movements. Try to suppress sneezing and coughing; if that is impossible, tightly hug a firm pillow or a rolled-up piece of clothing to your abdomen until the coughing or sneezing spell passes.

Other Causes of Hernia Symptoms

Severe abdominal pain and swelling may be due to an intestinal obstruction. Abdominal pain and swelling in a woman could be caused by an ovarian cyst. Both conditions are potential medical emergencies.

The herpes simplex virus infects skin and mucous membranes, causing painful, recurrent outbreaks of sores. There are two major strains: Type 1 generally causes cold sores and fever blisters; type 2 commonly affects the genital and anorectal area. Genital herpes is usually spread through sexual contact, and some 500,000 Americans contract it each year.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when excessive force is exerted against artery walls as the heart pumps blood. This silent disease has no symptoms until it has reached an advanced and dangerous stage, at which point it may produce headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and a rapid heart beat. If uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. It can also damage the eyes and other organs.

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungus Hisfopldsmu capsulate. The plant-like fungus gives off microscopic spores -- its counterpart of seeds -- that are light enough to float in the air. Once inhaled, these spores take root in the lungs, growing and multiplying rapidly and causing symptoms that range from mild to life threatening, depending on the number of spores inhaled and the person's general health. In rare cases, months or even years after the original infection, the disease infects the eyes, producing ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.

Hydroceles and varicoceles are two relatively common disorders affecting the male reproductive tract. Specifically, a hydrocele is a pear-shaped cyst in the groin. It develops when there is a buildup of the fluid that is normally found between the two layers of membrane that enclose the testicles. A varicocele is a tangle of varicose veins surrounding a testicle. It can usually be felt as a lump or swelling, most commonly on the left side of the testicle.

(Congenital, Normal pressure, and Obstructive Hydrocephalus)

Hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the spaces, or ventricles, within the brain and skull. Normally, the body produces about a pint of cerebrospinal fluid each day. After circulating through these spaces, the fluid is reabsorbed into the bloodstream and replaced by a fresh supply. Most often, hydrocephalus develops when a ventricle becomes blocked. The blockage may be the result of an overgrowth of tissue, a cerebral hemorrhage, inflammation, or a head injury. In rare cases, hydrocephalus results from an overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid caused by a brain tumor.

Hypoglycemia is a general term used to describe an abnormally low level of glucose, or blood sugar. This is defined as a glucose level of less than 60 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). The normal range of blood sugar levels, taken while fasting, is between 80 and 120 mg/dl.

Intermittent claudication refers to impaired blood circulation in a muscle during exercise. It develops commonly in the legs, causing symptoms that can range from a tired feeling to a crampy ache, a burning sensation, or severe pain. The discomfort occurs most often in the calf but also may arise in the foot, thigh, hip, or buttocks.

Symptoms usually develop after walking for a time. People with this condition can avoid them by resting before pain would normally occur. When discomfort does develop, it often disappears after a few minutes of rest.

Iritis is an inflammation of the iris, the two-layered, pigmented tissue of the eye that defines its color. Lying under the cornea, the translucent tissue that covers the eyeball, the iris separates the front of the eye from the back. It's often likened to the diaphragm of a camera, because it functions as a shutter, responding to varying light conditions by opening or contracting the pupil.

Iron overload, medically known as hemochromatosis, is an inherited metabolic disease in which the body absorbs too much iron from food. Normally, the body recycles iron from old red blood cells and absorbs new iron when its reserves are low. In hemochromotosis, this natural control goes awry, and the body both recycles its own iron and extracts more from food. Eventually, deposits of iron in many of the body's organs and tissues become dangerously high, resulting in possible diabetes and damage to the heart, liver, pancreas, joints, and testicles. Congestive heart failure is a leading cause of death among people with hemochromatosis.

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes. The discoloration results from a buildup in the blood of bilirubin, a pigment produced when the hemoglobin in worn-out red blood cells is broken down so that its iron can be recycled to make new blood cells.

Normally, the liver metabolizes and converts bilirubin into substances that are transported with bile into the intestinal tract to be eliminated. These byproducts give feces its brown color.

Kaposi's sarcoma (K.S.) is a cancer in which malignant cells appear as red or purple patches under the skin or the mucous membranes. These lesions most commonly originate on the legs and, depending upon their type, may spread to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, or intestinal tract. The disease is named for Dr. Moritz Kaposi, a Hungarian-born dermatologist who first described it in 1872 as a rare disease afflicting older Italian and Middle Eastern Jewish men. By the early 20th century, a somewhat different form was identified in Africa; it was found mostly among young men and children and was generally more lethal than the European type.

Kidney failure occurs when these organs cease to remove toxic wastes from the blood and excrete it in the urine. There are many causes of kidney failure but it follows one of two courses: Acute kidney failure comes on suddenly There is an abrupt decrease in urination and widespread swelling, or edema. Warning signs include unexplained weight gain of two or more pounds a day, facial puffiness, nausea, and marked weakness. As the failure progresses, the breath may have a urine odor. This is a life-threatening medical emergency, yet most patients eventually recover kidney function.

Kidney stones are accumulations of minerals and crystallized salts that form in the upper part of the urinary system. Most remain in the kidney, but some dislodge and move down the ureter into the bladder. Small stones may pass unnoticed through the urinary tract, but larger ones make their presence known with severe pain. The onset of an attack may be mild, but the pain intensifies rapidly, disappearing only when the stone is passed. If a stone becomes lodged along the way, the resulting pain is extreme and immobilizing.

Legionnaire's disease is a pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The organism, which normally dwells in pond water, was given its popular name after being identified as the cause of an outbreak of a mysterious, highly virulent pulmonary infection among 200 people attending a 1976 American Legion convention in Philadelphia. Since that time, nearly 20 species of the disease-causing bacterium have been identified.

Lupus, frequently referred to as SLE for systemic lupus erythematosus, is a chronic rheumatic disease in which connective tissue throughout the body becomes inflamed. It is an autoimmune disorder in which inflammation is caused by antibodies that attack normal body tissue as if it were an outside invader. The precise cause is unknown, but researchers believe that certain people inherit a genetic predisposition to the disorder, which is then triggered by a virus or some other unidentified environmental factor.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that can cause serious illness. Named after the Connecticut town where a cluster of cases were diagnosed in the mid 1970s, the disorder has now been reported throughout much of the United States, with the highest levels of infection on the East Coast, from Maine to Maryland, in the Upper Midwest, and in California.

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear. An attack most often starts with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears. Then severe vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and possibly a migraine headache usually occur. There may also be some hearing loss, especially if the episodes are prolonged and frequent. Occurrences can be incapacitating, lasting from several hours to several days and recurring with varying frequency.

Mumps is a viral disorder that causes painful swelling of the salivary glands in the neck and jaw. The causative paramyxovirus is highly contagious and easily spread in droplets expelled into the air by sneezing, coughing, even breathing, or by sharing a drinking glass, food utensils, or other items that have come in contact with the saliva of an infected person.

Muscular dystrophy is the general term for hereditary muscle diseases characterized by progressive weakness and disability. There are numerous forms, but the most common are: Duchenne dystrophy, the most severe type. It strikes boys who inherit the gene from their mothers. The progressive muscle weakness, usually apparent by age three, is caused by a lack of the protein dystrophin in muscle cells. The disability affects mainly the torso and limb muscles, and by age 12, most patients are confined to a wheelchair. Progressive weakening of the chest muscles usually results in respiratory failure or fatal pneumonia by age 20.

Myasthenia gravis is a relatively rare neuromuscular disease characterized by increasing weakness of voluntary muscles, especially those controlling the eyelids and the parts of the mouth and throat used in speaking and swallowing. Typically, the first symptoms are droopy eyelids and double vision. As the disease progresses, facial expressions become difficult to control; for example, a person trying to smile may appear to be snarling. Chewing, swallowing, and speaking are also impaired.

Nephritis is the general term for acute or chronic inflammation or impairment of the kidneys caused by infection, a degenerative process, or vascular damage. The disorder is always serious because it can set the stage for kidney failure. Two of the most common forms of nephritis are:

Pyelonephritis, caused by an acute or chronic bacterial infection. High fever, chills, severe back pain, and an increased need to urinate, accompanied by burning pain, are typical symptoms.

Glomerulonephritis, which can be caused by a variety of disorders that damage the glomeruli, kidney structures that filter waste from the blood.

Inflammation involving nerves that serve parts of the body outside the brain and spinal cord are referred to as peripheral neuropathy or neuritis. Because the inflammation interferes with the transmission of messages along these nerves, symptoms, in addition to pain, may include numbness, weakness, and tingling sensations.

Being overweight is the most prevalent nutrition-related health problem in the United States, affecting about half of all adults. Of these, 30 percent are obese, defined as being 20 percent or more above desirable weight. In addition to creating psychological and self-image problems, obesity increases the risk of some of our most lethal disorders, including diabetes and heart disease, and has been linked to an increased risk of cancers of the breast, uterus, ovaries, colon, prostate gland, and gallbladder. Excess weight also contributes to arthritis, back and foot pain, and respiratory disorders. In women, obesity can lead to menstrual irregularity and fertility problems.

Thinking about your bone health may be more important than you know.

Commissioned by the Know My Bones Council, a national survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that one out of five women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) are retiring later than anticipated and nearly half (48 percent) blame the current economy. Despite the need to work longer, half of the women with PMO are fearful that the disease will limit their ability to work.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones lose calcium and other minerals. There are two forms: type 1, the most common, occurs in postmenopausal women or younger ones whose ovaries have been removed; type 2, or senile osteoporosis, develops in both men and women, usually after age 75.

Paget's disease is a chronic disorder in which bone metabolism goes awry. Instead of an orderly, constant process of repair and replacement, there is rapid loss, or resorption, of calcium and other bone minerals. The marrow is then replaced by fibrous tissue and a proliferation of blood vessels, their growth often rapid and chaotic. The new bone has an abnormal structure; it is less compact and contains more blood vessels than normal bone. As a result, the affected bones may, in time, become enlarged and so weak that they break spontaneously.

Polycysiic kidney disease is a hereditary disorder in which fluid-filled sacs, called renal cysts, form in the kidneys. About 50,000 American adults have the disorder, which is responsible for about 5 percent of chronic kidney failure in the United States.

There are two general types of this disease: The adult, or autosomal dominant form, is more common and less severe. It generally does not appear until early adulthood, and when kidney failure occurs, it is usually after age 50. The infantile, or autosomal recessive form, is relatively rare. It shows up at birth or shortly afterward and results in early kidney failure. A variation of the infantile form of this disease remains asymptomatic during the early years, and generally causes less severe renal impairment. However, it develops in association with a congenital liver disease that often proves fatal.

The prostate is a ring shaped organ that wraps around the urethra. Only men have a prostate. It is a gland that secretes a fluid that partly makes up seminal fluid. Because it surrounds the urethra any changes in size will effect urination. See below for warning signs.

(Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon)

Raynaud's (pronounced ray-nose) disease is a circulatory disorder characterized by spasms of the arteries that carry blood to the fingers and toes. Exposure to cold or emotional stress triggers the spasms; researchers theorize that the underlying mechanism may be similar to that of migraine headaches.

(Renal Artery Stenosis; Renovascular Hypertension)

In renal artery disease, one or both major arteries that supply blood to the kidneys become narrowed or obstructed, creating a progressive rise in blood pressure. If untreated, this condition can progress to such life-threatening problems as malignant hypertension, kidney failure, stroke, or heart attack. About 2 percent of all high blood pressure cases can be traced to this disease.

Respiratory diseases affect the person's breathing abilities. If severe enough they can cause death. Some respiratory diseases affect the bronchioles, others the actual lungs. The causes can be exposure to toxic chemicals, such as smoking or work related chemicals, or, infections caused by pathogens.

(Hemoglobin S; Sickle Cell Anemia)

Sickle cell disease is the general term for a group of inherited blood disorders characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that contains iron and carries oxygen throughout the body. Sickle cell disorders derive their name from the abnormal crescent shape of the red blood cells, which are also easily destroyed.

Researchers in the United States and Canada are trying to determine whether the investigational drug bapineuzumab (bapi) can help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, an irreversible and fatal brain disease.

A stroke is a medical emergency. The chance of survival, or the chance of recovery, greatly depends on how soon advance medical help is obtained. A stroke is a situation where not enough blood is reaching the brain. Without adequate blood supply (known as ischemia) the brain can not function properly and that part of the brain will begin to die. An alternate name for a stroke is cerebral vascular accident (CVA).

Besides the regular heart attack that most of us are aware of, there are other numerous problems that can go wrong with the heart.

A virus, depending on the type, can make you ill for a few hours, or can cause death within a few days. Although most of us use the term very loosely, few of us know exactly what a virus is. As you read on, you might be amazed at its structure.

The following is a list of the things you should insist that your doctor check for, when they should be checked, and how often. There may be other tests that may apply to your situation. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor to see what tests you should have done.