Diseases
A disease is a condition that negatively affects the health or normal functioning of an organism. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as infections, genetic mutations, environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and underlying health conditions. Diseases can have a wide range of symptoms and severity, and they can affect different parts of the body or multiple systems at once. The diagnosis and treatment of diseases often involve medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
VIRUS
(VY-rus) In medicine, a very simple microorganism that infects cells and may cause disease.
BACTERIA
(bak-TEER-ee-uh) A large group of single-cell microorganisms. Some cause infections and disease in animals and humans.
FUNGUS
(FUN-gus) A plant-like organism that does not make chlorophyll. Mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are examples. The plural is fungi.
There are four main types of disease:
- Infectious Diseases
- Deficiency Diseases
- Hereditary Diseases (including both genetic diseases and non-genetic hereditary diseases), and
- Physiological diseases
Diseases can also be classified in other ways, such as communicable versus non-communicable diseases.
Causes and Carriers of Diseases
Virus
(VY-rus) In medicine, a very simple microorganism that infects cells and may cause disease. Because viruses can multiply only inside infected cells, they are not considered to be alive.
An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
Bacteria
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.
(bak-TEER-ee-uh) A large group of single-cell microorganisms. Some cause infections and disease in animals and humans. The singular of bacteria is bacterium.
Most Deadly Bacterial Infections:
- Tuberculosis
- Anthrax
- Tetanus
- Leptospirosis
- Pneumonia
- Cholera
- Botulism
- Pseudomonas Infection
Fungus
(FUN-gus) A plant-like organism that does not make chlorophyll. Mushrooms, yeasts, and molds are examples. The plural is fungi.
Fungi (singular: fungus) are a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs (cannot make their own food) and have important roles in nutrient cycling in an ecosystem. Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually, and they also have symbiotic associations with plants and bacteria.
Fungi are usually classified in four divisions: the Chytridiomycota (chytrids), Zygomycota (bread molds), Ascomycota (yeasts and sac fungi), and the Basidiomycota (club fungi). Placement into a division is based on the way in which the fungus reproduces sexually.
Heart Disease – Heart Attack
A heart attack is a medical emergency. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart. Without blood, tissue loses oxygen and dies.
Symptoms include tightness or pain in the chest, neck, back, or arms, as well as fatigue, light headedness, abnormal heartbeat, and anxiety. Women are more likely to have atypical symptoms than men.
Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and cardiac rehabilitation to medications, stents, and bypass surgery.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
The symptoms you experience won’t exactly match those of another person. However, the most common diabetes symptoms experienced by many people with diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, feeling tired and losing weight.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer. The kind of breast cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn into cancer. Breast cancer can begin in different parts of the breast. Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men.
Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast.
Treatment depends on the stage of cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid.
Symptoms include difficulty with urination, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
Some types of prostate cancer grow slowly. In some of these cases, monitoring is recommended. Other types are aggressive and require radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or other treatments.
BCC Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers.
Basal cells produce new skin cells as old ones die. Limiting sun exposure can help prevent these cells from becoming cancerous.
This cancer typically appears as a white waxy lump or a brown scaly patch on sun-exposed areas, such as the face and neck.
Treatments include prescription creams or surgery to remove the cancer.
Melanoma
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, develops in the cells (melanocytes) that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color. Melanoma can also form in your eyes and, rarely, inside your body, such as in your nose or throat.
Melanoma occurs when the pigment-producing cells that give color to the skin become cancerous. Symptoms might include a new, unusual growth or a change in an existing mole. Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body.
Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, medications, or in some cases chemotherapy.
Colon Cancer
A cancer of the colon or rectum, which may begin as noncancerous polyps.
Colorectal cancer is a growth of cells that forms in the lower end of the digestive tract. Most of these cancers start as noncancerous growths called polyps. Removing polyps can prevent cancer, so health care providers recommend screenings for those at high risk or over the age of 45.
Symptoms may vary depending on the cancer’s size and location. Symptoms might include blood in the stool, abdominal discomfort, and a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation.
Colorectal cancer treatment depends on the size, location, and how far the cancer has spread. Common treatments include surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool. Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain. A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale.
Two major types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Causes of lung cancer include smoking, secondhand smoke, exposure to certain toxins, and family history. Symptoms include cough (often with blood), chest pain, wheezing, and weight loss. These symptoms often don’t appear until the cancer is advanced.
Treatments vary but may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy.
Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Many types of leukemia exist
A cancer of blood-forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection.
Leukemia is cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow. Many types exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Many patients with slow-growing types of leukemias don’t have symptoms. Rapidly growing types of leukemia may cause symptoms that include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, and easy bleeding or bruising.
Treatment is highly variable. For slow-growing leukemias, treatment may include monitoring. For aggressive leukemias, treatment includes chemotherapy that’s sometimes followed by radiation and stem-cell transplant.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that start in the lymph system (the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections).
The lymphatic system is the body’s disease-fighting network. It includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. The main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and weight loss. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, medication, radiation therapy, and rarely stem-cell transplant.
Arthritis
Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
Different types of arthritis exist, each with different causes including wear and tear, infections, and underlying diseases.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and stiffness.
Medications, physical therapy, or sometimes surgery helps reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Alzheimer
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Alzheimer’s disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Brain cell connections and the cells themselves degenerate and die, eventually destroying memory and other important mental functions. Memory loss and confusion are the main symptoms. No cure exists, but medications and management strategies may temporarily improve symptoms.
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack.
A condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow and swell, and produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be minor or it can interfere with daily activities. In some cases, it may lead to a life-threatening attack.
Asthma may cause difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough, and wheezing. The symptoms may sometimes flare-up. Asthma can usually be managed with rescue inhalers to treat symptoms and controller inhalers that prevent symptoms. Severe cases may require longer-acting inhalers that keep the airways open, as well as oral steroids.
Influenza
Overview. Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world. There are 4 types of influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease.
A common viral infection that can be deadly, especially in high-risk groups. The flu attacks the lungs, nose, and throat. Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic disease or weak immune systems are at high risk.
Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches, and fatigue. The flu is treated primarily with rest and fluid to let the body fight the infection on its own. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers may help with symptoms. An annual vaccine can help prevent the flu and limit its complications.
Depression
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. A group of conditions associated with the elevation or lowering of a person’s mood, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
Most Common Types:
Clinical depression: A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER CHARACTERIZED BY PERSISTENTLY DEPRESSED MOOD OR LOSS OF INTEREST IN ACTIVITIES, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT IN DAILY LIFE.
Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Increasingly, research suggests these factors may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.
The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.
The mainstay of treatment is usually medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. Increasingly, research suggests these treatments may normalize brain changes associated with depression.
Persistent depressive disorder: A MILD BUT LONG-TERM FORM OF DEPRESSION.
Dysthymia is defined as a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression. Examples of symptoms include lost interest in normal activities, hopelessness, low self-esteem, low appetite, low energy, sleep changes, and poor concentration. Treatments include medications and talk therapy. Bipolar disorder:A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role. Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, and loss of touch with reality. Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, and loss of interest in daily activities. Mood episodes last days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts.
Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Bipolar II disorder: A type of bipolar disorder characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes.
It involves at least one depressive episode lasting at least two weeks and at least one hypomanic episode lasting at least four days. Depressive symptoms include sadness or hopelessness. Hypomanic symptoms include a persistently elevated or irritable mood.
Treatment includes counseling and medications, such as mood stabilizers. Postpartum depression: Depression that occurs after childbirth. Those who develop postpartum depression are at greater risk of developing major depression later on in life.
Symptoms might include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby. Untreated, the condition may last months or longer. Treatment can include counselling, antidepressants, or hormone therapy.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the quality or structure of bone changes. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength that can increase the risk of broken bones (fractures)
A condition in which bones become weak and brittle. The body constantly absorbs and replaces bone tissue. With osteoporosis, new bone creation doesn’t keep up with old bone removal.
Many people have no symptoms until they have a bone fracture.
Treatment includes medications, healthy diet, and weight-bearing exercise to help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones
Allergies
An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it. The symptoms that result are an allergic reaction. The substances that cause allergic reactions are allergens. Allergens can get into your body many ways to cause an allergic reaction.
Allergy is A condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. An abnormal reaction of the immune system to a medication.
In many cases, the allergic reaction is mild. Severe cases can lead to shock and may be life-threatening. Hives, rashes, and fever are common symptoms.
Treatment involves discontinuing the medication that’s causing the reaction. Other medications can reduce the allergy symptoms, such as antihistamines. In severe cases, bronchodilators, or epinephrine may be needed.
Food Allergy
An unpleasant or dangerous immune system reaction after a certain food is eaten.
The cause of food allergies is unknown. In some cases, allergies experienced during childhood may resolve in adulthood.
Symptoms of a reaction can include digestive problems, hives, or swollen airways. Severe reactions can be life-threatening.
Antihistamine drugs treat mild reactions. A severe reaction needs an injection of the drug epinephrine and emergency room care.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. The rash isn’t contagious, but it can be very uncomfortable. Many substances can cause this reaction, such as cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry and plants.
A skin rash caused by contact with a certain substance. The substance might irritate the skin or trigger an allergic reaction. Some common culprits include soap, cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, and poison ivy.
The main symptom is a red rash wherever the skin comes into contact with the irritant. Avoiding the irritant or allergen should allow the rash to clear in two to four weeks. Creams or medications can help reduce itching.
Latex Allergy
In most cases, latex allergy develops after many previous exposures to latex. Latex allergy symptoms may include hives, itching, stuffy or runny nose. It can cause asthma symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Symptoms begin within minutes after exposure to latex containing products.
An allergic reaction to certain proteins found in natural rubber latex.
A latex allergy is an immune system reaction to proteins in natural rubber latex, a product made from rubber tree fluids.
Symptoms range from minor skin irritation to life-threatening shock.
A person who is allergic to latex should avoid it. Antihistamine drugs can help minor reactions. Severe reactions may require emergency care.
Astmatic Allergy
Allergic asthma is a breathing condition where the airways you breathe through tighten when you inhale an allergen. Common allergens include pollen, dander and mold spores. This type of asthma is very common in both children and adults.
Asthma triggered by exposure to the same substances that trigger allergy symptoms. An allergy is when the immune system mistakes a harmless substance, such as pollen, as dangerous. The body releases chemicals to attack the substance.
An allergy affecting the lungs can lead to asthma symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing. Medications help control the condition.
Seasonal Allergy
An allergic response causing itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and other similar symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis occurs seasonally or year-round. Diagnosis involves history-taking, examination of the nasal passages, and sometimes skin testing.
Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, and red, watery, and itchy eyes.
Antihistamine medications can reduce symptoms.
Animal Allergy
Pet allergy is an allergic reaction to proteins found in an animal’s skin cells, saliva or urine. Signs of pet allergy include those common.
An abnormal immune reaction to proteins in an animal’s skin cells, saliva, or urine. This is a relatively common type of allergy. It occurs more often in people with asthma and can run in families.
Sneezing and a runny nose are common symptoms. People who also have asthma may experience wheezing and difficulty breathing. Treatment involves avoiding exposure to the animal. Medications can relieve symptoms and manage asthma, if needed.
Anaphylaxis Allergy
Anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, insect stings, medications and latex. If you are allergic to a substance, your immune system overreacts to this allergen by releasing chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.
A severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The reaction can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen.
Symptoms include a skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and shock. If not treated right away, usually with epinephrine, it can result in unconsciousness or death.
Mold Allergy
Overview. If you have a mold allergy, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores. A mold allergy can cause coughing, itchy eyes and other symptoms that make you miserable. In some people, a mold allergy is linked to asthma and exposure causes restricted breathing and other airway symptoms.
An abnormal allergic reaction to mold spores. In people who have mold allergy, being exposed to mold (at work, home, or outdoors) causes the immune system to overreact.
Symptoms include cough, itchy, watery eyes, and hives. People who have asthma may experience wheezing and difficulty breathing. Treatment involves avoiding mold exposure. Medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, and allergy shots can help relieve symptoms and manage asthma.
