Diseases & Conditions

Diseases & Conditions

Diseases are essentially abnormal conditions that impair the normal functioning of the body. In a much broader sense of the term, a disease can refer to injuries, disorders, disabilities, infections, syndromes, deviant behaviors and even isolated symptoms. Such diseased conditions are normally associated with the appearance of certain symptoms, including dysfunction, pain, social problems, distress or even death of the person who is afflicted with the disease or for people who are in contact with the afflicted person. Diseases can be caused by a number of factors, including invading organisms, internal dysfunctions or autoimmune disorders. Some of the commonly found diseases and conditions have been described below.

Autism

Autism is a brain development disorder usually diagnosed in early childhood. It is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and a tendency for repetitive behavior.

Cancer

It is a broad category of disease which is caused when the cells of a tissue are no longer growing, dividing or functioning, as they are meant to be in a specific organ or tissue in the body, causing precancerous cells to form. Due to certain mutations, the cells undergo uncontrolled multiplication, forming a fatal mass of cells called tumor. Some examples of cancers include colon cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer, bone cancer and thyroid cancer. There is also metastic cancer, which refers to a secondary cancer that develops elsewhere in the body when cancer cells spread from one cancer site to another in the body.

Cancer is a disease that has no known cause and no known cure, although there are a small number of treatment options available. Some cancers can be cured via surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Some cancers do not show symptoms until they have spread further into the body, which makes them dangerous because they are not diagnosed until they have reached a terminal stage.

Acne

Acne is a common, itchy and inflammatory skin condition characterized by pimples. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells or bacteria.

Stroke

A stroke is the loss of brain function due to lack of blood supply to the brain. There can be many causes for a stroke, the common causes being thrombosis, embolism or a hemorrhage.

Obesity

Obesity may be defined as an abnormal condition or excessive fat accumulation in the body and this poses several health risks to the patients.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition which results in damage to the bone joints and this causes pain, stiffness and numbness. Severe cases may even necessitate the replacement of the joints for relief to the patient.

Flu

Flu is a respiratory infection, caused by different forms of viruses. It can be fatal for elderly people, newborn babies and patients suffering from certain chronic illnesses.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an infection that causes inflammation to the liver, and often results from the hepatitis A virus, the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus. These viruses spread either through blood to blood contact or through fecal contact depending on which virus is being spread and contracted. There are no actual cures or treatments for them and they essentially rectify themselves over time. But they are capable of becoming chronic diseases when the body is unable to ward them off.

Hernia

Hernia is an ailment in which a body part, such as the intestine or fatty tissues, bulges out beyond its normal boundary.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition in which the patient experiences chronic pain in the muscles and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments even in case of a gentle touch.

Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory and autoimmune disease where the immune system of the body starts attacking its own tissues and organs.

Allergies

An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to the environmental substances known as allergens.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a blood and bone marrow cancer that occurs when uncontrolled changes and multiplication begin in the different types of cells in the bone marrow.

Gout

Gout, also known as gouty arthritis, is the painful inflammation of the bone joints.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune nervous system disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Hypertension

Hypertension is high blood pressure when blood is pumped through the arteries. If a person's blood pressure is in the range of 140 - 90 or higher, he/she is said to be suffering from hypertension.

Psoriasis

It is an autoimmune, chronic disease of the skin, which causes red, scaly patches on the skin, usually around joints.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is defined as mucosal damage due to abnormal reflux in the esophagus causing chronic symptoms such as heartburn, nausea and regurgitation.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing gets disrupted during sleep. This can be fatal if there are long breath gaps.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Diabetes

It is an autoimmune disease where the sugar level in blood increases above normal due to lack of insulin hormone in the body.

Anemia

It is a condition in which the count of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood is less than normal.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways are inflamed and restricted causing breathing trouble.

Restless Legs Syndrome

It is a restless sensation in the legs causing burning, itching and tickling sensation in the muscles.

Pneumonia

It is a common inflammatory illness of the lungs due to infections caused by bacteria, a virus, fungi or parasites.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi associated with a common illness such as common cold or influenza.

Heart Attack

A heart attack, or cardiac arrest, is caused by the blockage of the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart.