Illnesses

Alzheimer’s disease lowers memory and other mental functions. The brain cells are damaged and cause memory loss. There is no cure for this disease yet. Call the hospital and tell family right away.

Arthritis is the swelling of joints that worsens with age. It is caused due to age, large bodyweight, your sex and previous injuries to bones. It causes soft bone tissue to break down. Rheumatoid affects the lining of the joints. There is treatment that helps to reduce the pain.

Asthma causes the airway in lungs to become small, making it harder to breathe. It can be a small problem that affects daily work or can be life-threatening. There is no cure. A device is used for helping asthma patients breathe.

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and rapid heartbeat. During this, the two upper sections of the heart beat irregularly and rapidly in comparison to the two lower sections of the heart. This can result in heart failure or can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart that can cause a stroke or block arteries supplying important organs.

Autism affects how a person behaves in public, making it hard for them to state their needs. It begins at a young age and makes it hard for the person to study in school. There is no cure for Autism but early treatment can make a big difference in the life of children.

Cancer causes abnormal and uncontrollable growth of cells. These cells destroy normal body tissue. It can affect a single body part or the entire body. It is the second largest cause of death. If found out at an early stage, cancer can be treated and full recovery is possible but if found at a later stage, the patient does not live for long.

Also called chronic kidney failure, this is the gradual loss of a kidney’s ability to filter waste and excess fluids and maintain the normal concentration of sodium, potassium and hydrogen ions in the blood.  When this waste is not filtered by the kidneys, dangerous levels of fluids and wastes can build up in your body.

COPD makes it hard for someone to breathe. It is caused by long-term exposure to substances like cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes or dust that irritate and damage the lungs. As the disease gets worse, symptoms become more severe.

It is a number of diseases related to problems with the hormone insulin. Insulin helps your body store and use sugar and fat from the foods you eat. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach, produces very little or no insulin or when the body does not respond properly to insulin. There is no cure, and people must manage their disease to stay healthy.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle does not pump enough blood. It can be due to a prolonged increase in blood pressure or previous heart disease.  Narrowed arteries in your heart or high blood pressure can leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently.

Heart attacks occur when the flow of blood to the heart is reduced or completely blocked. In the US, there is one heart attack every 44 seconds. This affects about 715,000 Americans each year. 

Hepatitis B is a liver infection that lasts for 6 months or more. It can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Complete recovery is possible. Hepatitis C causes liver inflation and spreads through blood. It can be cured by taking oral medications for 6 months.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a type of virus which reduces the human body's ability to fight diseases. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the last stage of HIV. The treatment of HIV can only help patients to live longer but does not cure it. The HIV virus can be spread through blood from or unprotected sex with an infected person. Also, a pregnant HIV patient can transmit the disease to their baby through breast feeding.

Hyperlipidemia refers to high levels of fats and cholesterol in the body that cause blood clots and reduced blood flow. Cholesterol is found naturally in the liver and in fatty foods (e.g., eggs, red meat and cheese). But high fat levels, particularly in the heart and brain, increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke or other problems. One-third of the U.S. population (71 million) are affected by high cholesterol. There are no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect high cholesterol and should be discussed with a doctor.

HBP is defined as high pressure or tension in the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the artery walls, if high enough, may eventually cause a variety of health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss and stroke. There are usually no symptoms for HBP. It is for this reason that the condition is known as a “silent killer.” About 1 out of every 5 people aren't aware that they have HBP. The only way to keep track of blood pressure is to visit your doctor regularly and have your blood pressure checked.

Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is the number one killer of Americans that is many times caused by fat deposits and reduced blood flow in the arteries leading to the heart. Ischemia means a "reduced blood supply". When the flow of blood is completely blocked by a blocked artery, a heart attack will occur.

Osteoporosis leads to the weakening of bone because the tissue inside the bone stops making new tissue. A patient who has osteoporosis can commonly suffer from bone fractures.

Obesity is when patients have an excessive amount of body fat. This can cause heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, breathing trouble and high cholesterol.

A stroke occurs when blood flowing to and within the brain is blocked. When this happens, brain cells do not get enough oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and is a leading cause of adult disability in the US. It affects an American every 40 seconds.