Erosive oesophagitis is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when inflammation occurs in the oesophagus. A burning sensation beginning in the upper section of the abdomen is a common symptom of erosive oesophagitis. Severe cases of erosive oesophagitis cause ... Views: 18
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of various illnesses. Nausea and vomiting can occur due to food poisoning, infections of the stomach or bowels, gastroesophageal reflux disease, migraines and as a side effect of other medications. Feelings of nausea and vomiting can be extremely ... Views: 12
Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the large intestine or colon causing inflammation and sores or ulcers. Ulcers that form in the digestive tract can be acidic and extremely painful. Inflammation caused by UC leads to various symptoms such as bleeding, pain, pus and diarrhea. Although the cause of ... Views: 24
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere in the GI tract although it occurs commonly in the latter part of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. This condition can occur to any ... Views: 12
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that causes stomach contents along with stomach acids to rise to the oesophagus. Persistent GERD can be extremely problematic as it can damage the esophagus and cause symptoms of heartburn. There are numerous reasons for the cause of ... Views: 14
The pancreas is a gland located in the abdomen and is part of the digestive system. The pancreas helps break down foods by producing hormones and enzymes. The pancreas has both endocrine functions, as well as, exocrine functions. This gland is also useful as it releases insulin for proper ... Views: 15
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a joint disease that occursas a result of cartilage loss in the joints. Osteoarthritis occurs most commonly on weight bearing joints such as the hip, knees and spine. Cartilage is a vital component to proper joint function. Friction ... Views: 12
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting various parts of the bowel. Ulcerative proctitis is a mild form of ulcerative colitis and affects only the rectum. Ulcerative proctitis causes inflammation and redness of the rectum that can lead to rectal ulcers. The colon is ... Views: 12
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and causes inflammation in the lining of the large intestine. The large intestine works by absorbing the liquid in stools and making it into a solid. Inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis results in the loss of the colon ... Views: 14
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation in the small joints of the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis is not the same as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs due to aging and wear and tear of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune ... Views: 15
Open angle glaucoma is a common form of glaucoma and affects 80% - 90% of people who suffer from glaucoma. Open angle glaucoma can lead to blindness and can be extremely dangerous. The danger of open angle glaucoma is doubled as, most often; the condition may be undetected for many years. The ... Views: 20
The body makes the right amount of cholesterol required for producing hormones, vitamin D and digesting foods. However, cholesterol also accumulates in the body due to foods consumed and lack of exercise. Cholesterol travels through the body with the help of lipoproteins. Two lipoproteins carry ... Views: 21
Osteoarthritis is a disease affecting the joints and cartilage. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, osteoarthritis affects an estimated 50 million adults in the United States. Cartilage is the soft tissue covering the ends of bones in a joint. Cartilage aidsthe effortless ... Views: 21
An overactive bladder can be a nuisance to anyone suffering from the condition. This is a medical condition where a person may have the sudden and unrestrained urgency to pass urine. This urge cannot be stopped despite efforts at suppressing it. Most persons suffering with this problem may find ... Views: 34
The human skin consists of three layers termed as the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The skin is made up of 70% water, 25% protein and 2% lipids. The skin protects bacteria and viruses from causing infections and regulates body temperature. However, there are instances when the skin ... Views: 25
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), in the United States, estimates that more than 60 to 70 million people are affected with various kinds of digestive diseases. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the main digestive diseases. Gastroesophageal reflux disease ... Views: 21
The American Diabetes Association conducted a survey, in 2011, on the prevalence of diabetes. According to their estimates approximately 25.8 million children and adults, in the United States, suffer with diabetes. About one in every 400 children has diabetes. Diabetes can be divided into two ... Views: 28
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease. This disease is characterized by the inability to breathe. One of the main causes of COPD is cigarette smoking. However, long-term exposure to other irritants including pollution, dust or chemical fumes also increases ... Views: 19
Schizophrenia affects the brain and affects the way a person thinks, behaves and sees the world around him/her. The brain consists of millions of nerve cells, and these nerve cells work by transmitting messages via chemicals known as neurotransmitters. This is the normal function of the human ... Views: 21
High blood pressure or hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer”. This is because high blood pressure often does not show any symptoms until it progresses past the latent stages. Symptoms of high blood pressure often make itself known only once the disease causes secondary medical ... Views: 23
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers. 2012 estimates for the United States on melanoma indicate that approximately 76,250 persons will be diagnosed with melanomas. 9,180 people are expected to die of melanoma. Melanoma is a serious skin cancer ... Views: 31
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting messages between nerve cells for controlling movement. Problems with the nerve cells cause various conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. This is a disease that affects the way a person moves. Proper levels of dopamine aid in smooth ... Views: 20
Sjogren’s syndrome is a chronic disease affecting the immune system. This condition causes the white blood cells to attack the glands producing saliva. The loss of moisture to the eyes and mouth, results in dry mouth and eyes. Sometimes, moisture production in the vagina may also be affected ... Views: 24
Huntington disease (HD) is a rare, autosomal neurodegenerative condition characterised with impaired voluntary and involuntary movements, slurred speech, reduced manual dexterity and balance problems and falls. The disease was first diagnosed and described by George Huntington in 1872, hence the ... Views: 21
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis is characterised by sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and nasal congestion. The most common cause of nasal allergies is airborne substances such as pollen, dust mites and dander. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ... Views: 21
Cholesterol refers to a substance that is naturally found in the body and an essential contributor to living. It is generally believed that high levels of cholesterol can be fatal to human leading to high risks of stroke, heart diseases and eventually leading to death. This process generally ... Views: 22
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes affects more than 151,000 people below the age of 20. Childhood diabetes is commonly referred to as juvenile-onset diabetes. Diabetes is categorized into two types. Type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease and ... Views: 17
The statistics for HIV/AIDS for the year 2010 were published by UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF in November 2011. According to the figures supplied by these organizations more than 34 million people around the world live with HIV/AIDS. Out of this, 3.4 million includes children. HIV occurs through the ... Views: 18
According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 56,460 cases, in 2012, will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The National Cancer Institute further estimates that 1,780 people will die of thyroid cancer. Although thyroid cancer is a rare condition, it is the most common cancer affecting ... Views: 24
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the United States estimates approximately 400,000 people suffer with this disease. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects more than 2.1 million people the world over. MS is a chronic, progressive and disabling condition affecting the central nervous system. ... Views: 34
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention states that one in three US adults have high blood pressure. High blood pressure puts a person at risk of congestive heart failure, heart disease, and stroke and kidney disease. High blood pressure, in 2010, cost the United States $76.6 billion in ... Views: 43
The sudden, unstoppable need to pass urine may be due to overactive bladder syndrome. This occurs due to the abnormal contraction of the bladder and is spontaneous and unpreventable. This condition can be extremely embarrassing and requires medical attention. Many persons affected with this ... Views: 60
High blood pressure (hypertension) can affect a person at any time in the age cycle. As it has no overt symptoms during its onset, the condition often progress undetected and significantly raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. There are two forms of high blood pressure that can be ... Views: 45
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) almost always affects older males. BPH occurs due to the enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a small, gland surrounding the urethra and the neck of the bladder. The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system, and its function ... Views: 36
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 14% of US white women aged 50 – 59 and 22% aged 60 – 69 and 39% aged 70-79 suffer with osteoporosis. This condition occurs with the loss of bone mass loss which leads to breakage of bones or fractures. Osteoporosis is common among postmenopausal ... Views: 49
The body needs everything in the right amounts for its proper function. Anything in excess or less than what is required may be harmful to the body. The same is applicable for cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced by the liver in the right quantities for a variety of functions. Excessive ... Views: 40
Patients with high cholesterol may have noticed high levels of triglycerides in their blood tests. Triglycerides, as cholesterol, are a lipid present in the blood. Having high levels of triglycerides increases one’s risk of heart disease. Any food eaten is converted into triglycerides if they ... Views: 47
Virus and bacterial infections are common inflections that affect a vast number of people. Viruses are tiny, micro-organism that requires a host such as humans, animals or plants to thrive. Bacteria are tiny, single-cell micro-organisms that exist together in millions. Bacteria come in three ... Views: 43
More and more women, in the present day, suffer with depression. It is an extremely common affliction in women, and it is more than likely that more women suffer with depression than men. Depression is a mood disorder characterised with feelings of intense hopelessness, helplessness, sadness and ... Views: 57
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection. It is commonly known as impotence. Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual disorder in men. Erectile dysfunction may be caused by stress, medications, low self-esteem, low self-confidence and tension in a ... Views: 56
High blood pressure (hypertension) in children is not an uncommon occurrence. Many young children and teenagers are affected with high blood pressure. The main cause of hypertension in children is their diet and lack of exercise. Most children, in the present day, are obese as a result of too ... Views: 38
Blood pressure fluctuates during the course of the day depending on the activities conducted. This however does not mean that such a person is suffering from high blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a medical condition where a person’s pressure remains significantly high all ... Views: 38
A positive diagnosis of breast cancer can be an extremely stressful time for a woman. However, the spread of breast cancer may be avoided if detected in the early stages. Breast cancer develops from the cells that line the breast, lobules and draining ducts. Breast cancer can be divided into two ... Views: 36
Pleural mesothelioma is a lung disease affecting the serous membranes of the lungs. This condition is also referred to as asbestos lung cancer. The first diagnosis of mesothelioma connecting the illness to asbestos exposure was made in 1964. Serous membranes are thin layers of tissue made up of ... Views: 38
Diabetes is a medical condition that should be taken extremely seriously. It is a disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or when the body does not use insulin correctly. Insulin is essential for controlling blood sugar levels in the body. Treatment is necessary ... Views: 37
Acid reflux is a common digestive condition and affects many Americans of all ages. Mild heartburn, a symptom of acid reflux, experienced after eating spicy or overly acidic foods can be normal. However, chronic heartburn occurring more than two or three times a week may be due to ... Views: 32
Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced by the liver and is essential for normal body functions. Cholesterol performs many functions. These include the prevention of crystallization of hydrocarbons in the membrane, cell membrane permeability, aids in the production of sex hormones and bile, ... Views: 33
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that schizophrenia affects more than 24 million people worldwide. It is a treatable mental disorder, although WHO claims that less than 50% persons with schizophrenia are obtaining treatment for the condition. Schizophrenia is a disabling, mental ... Views: 52
The prostate belongs to the male reproductive system, and its main function is to protect and enrich sperm. There are four main disorders that affect the prostate. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one disorder. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the enlargement of the prostate gland. Some ... Views: 52
Zollinger-Elison syndrome is a rare disorder that produces tumours in the gastro intestinal system of the human body. The pancreas, stomach, and duodenum, are part of the digestive system and, as such are digestive organs. Foods consumed are broken down in the stomach and is further broken down ... Views: 65