Diseases Articles

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-30-2024

Want some tips for your sobriety journey? This Cheat Sheet helps you challenge beliefs and societal pressures, break free from sobriety stigmas, understand your willpower’s role, and dispel conceptions about happiness.

Article / Updated 09-11-2024

The term hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. But when you're talking about hepatitis C, you're talking about viral hepatitis, and hep C isn't the only form of hepatitis caused by a virus. So far, five different viruses have been found that cause hepatitis, and they're named with letters: Hepatitis Avirus causes hepatitis A; hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B; hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C; and hepatitis E virus causes hepatitis E. Hepatitis D virus is a special case, because it can't infect you unless you also have hepatitis B virus. The different types of viral hepatitis have similar features but also important differences. Depending on the hepatitis virus, the disease may be temporary — an acute form, which lasts less than a year. With hepatitis B or C, though, infection can become chronic and last for decades, or life, unless you undergo successful treatment against the virus. Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis A (also called infectious hepatitis) was identified in 1973. Hepatitis A spreads through food or water that has been contaminated with infected feces. You can get hepatitis A from: Not washing your hands after exposure to feces: Examples include not washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. Eating contaminated food: This situation can occur with uncooked food and food prepared by someone who didn't wash his hands after using the toilet. Drinking contaminated water: Dealing with contaminated water could be a problem when traveling. Sexual contact with someone who's infected: Practice safer sex and especially take care if you have anal or oral–anal sex. Hepatitis A causes an acute infection. In the United States, 200,000 cases of hepatitis A are reported yearly, and a third of all people have already been exposed to hepatitis A virus at some point in their lives but may not have known it. If you've been exposed to hepatitis A in the past or gotten a vaccine, you'll be immune, or protected from future hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis B virus The hepatitis B virus (serum hepatitis) was found in 1963 and spreads through contact with infected body fluids (including saliva, vaginal fluid, and semen) and blood. You can get hepatitis B from Injection drug use Unprotected sex Transmission from mother to child during birth The razor or toothbrush of an infected person Occupational exposure of healthcare workers or emergency personnel to infected blood or body fluids Hepatitis B can cause an acute or chronic infection, but chronic infection occurs in only approximately 5 percent of cases. A hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B (and hepatitis D). Hepatitis C virus The hepatitis C virus was discovered in 1989. For decades before that, it was called "non-A non-B" hepatitis because researchers knew that it wasn't caused by the other known hepatitis viruses at the time. Hep C is transmitted through blood, and 75 to 85 percent of people infected will have a chronic infection, which puts them at risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure over many decades of infection. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C, so prevention is the key to avoiding infection. Hep C infection can last a lifetime, so you need to take good care of yourself physically, emotionally, and financially. Medical research is ongoing to develop more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Currently, combination therapy with two drugs — pegylated interferon and ribavirin — is the best treatment, but it doesn't work for everyone. Hepatitis D virus Hepatitis D was discovered in 1977 and is an incomplete virus thatcan't infect you on its own; it has to tag along with hepatitis B virus. When it does, it can produce more-severe hepatitis B disease. Transmission of hepatitis D is the same as for hepatitis B. Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D infection, too. Hepatitis E virus The hepatitis E virus was discovered in 1983 as another hepatitis virus that's transmitted through contamination of water with feces. Outbreaks of hepatitis E occur primarily in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Central America due to unsanitary water supplies. Hepatitis E is rare in Canada, the United States, and other developed countries. Hepatitis E is an acute infection. For some as-yet-unexplained reason, pregnant women appear to be at risk of a more severe disease when infected with hepatitis E. Other hepatitis viruses Researchers believe that most people with viral hepatitis have one of the hepatitis viruses from A to E. But scientists are always on the lookout for new viruses that can cause disease. The viruses called hepatitis G virus (HGV), TTV (transfusion transmitted virus), and sentinel viruses (SEN) have all been discovered in the blood of people with hepatitis. But it's not absolutely clear that these viruses actually cause hepatitis. Hepatitis F is a name for a virus that's no longer thought to cause hepatitis.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 06-24-2024

Diabetes, which is excessive glucose in your blood, leads to serious health problems if left untreated. You should follow the American Diabetes Association screening guidelines to get tested for diabetes at the earliest possible time. If you have diabetes, this Cheat Sheet is a handy reference to screening guidelines, rules for living with diabetes, and continuing your diabetes care to better control the disease.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-27-2024

The first step to dealing with high blood pressure is understanding your blood pressure measurement — those over and under numbers. When you know what your blood pressure is, you need to know what to do next. The good news is, you may be able to prevent high blood pressure or reduce your blood pressure by making some lifestyle changes. You also need to look for signs of resistant high blood pressure, and if you need high blood pressure medication, consult a physician to find the right medication for you.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-31-2023

COVID-19 For Dummies gives you great guidance on how to keep yourself and others healthy — from the ins and outs of stopping the virus from spreading, to caring for yourself if you do become infected, and even staying safe at work and other public places. This handy Cheat Sheet contains quick info to help you prevent spreading or catching COVID-19, figure out whether the illness that you have is the flu or COVID-19, and get better when you’re sick.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-18-2023

Breast cancer is a particularly devastating and intimate disease. Although not as deadly as some other forms of cancer — five-year survival rates in the United States are between 80 percent and 90 percent — the toll that breast cancer takes on the body, mind, and psychology make it an especially difficult disease to contend with. The good news is that it is a relatively easy cancer to detect early, and usually the earlier it is caught, the better the prognosis. Breast cancer survivors have several treatment avenues, including chemotherapy, radiation, therapy, hormonal therapy, and a few different surgery options, including different mastectomies.

Article / Updated 08-10-2023

Unfortunately, ingesting poison into your system daily for many years takes a toll. We say that not to shame or scare you. Mercifully, we’re keeping some of the gory details limited. The reason it’s important to know about these issues is that it may help give you additional motivation for quitting. The good news is that quitting smoking confers substantial health benefits no matter when you do it. The bad news is that you actually have to quit to get these benefits. So, exactly what can you expect in the relatively near term when you quit smoking? Here are a few of the benefits: If you’re an exerciser, your lung function starts to improve after just a few weeks of not smoking. Fertility returns to normal quickly after quitting. The risk of babies born with low birth weight is the same as nonsmokers upon quitting. Your smell and taste will gradually return after six months or less. You won’t cough as much in the first year or so. Your heart disease risk reduces after the first year and improves to that of a nonsmoker after 15 years. Cancer risk reduction takes longer but declines after five years. Your risk of a stroke declines substantially after five years. Smoking effects on the vascular system The circulatory system includes the heart, arteries and veins and is responsible for delivering oxygen-rich nutrients and removing waste from all areas in the body. In a healthy body, the process of circulation is effortless. Smoking interferes with that process. Cardiovascular disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. About 20 percent of all deaths from heart disease can be directly attributed to smoking. In addition, smokers who have heart disease are more likely to die younger than nonsmokers. Every single cigarette a smoker consumes increases the risk of heart disease. In other words, the more you smoke, the more likely you’ll die of heart disease. What does smoking do to the cardiovascular system? If your health care provider tells you that you suffer from one of the following health issues, you can bet that smoking has contributed to these interrelated diseases: Hypertension (high blood pressure): Smoking increases blood pressure immediately and over the long term. Hypertension causes the heart to pump harder. It damages blood vessels, causing them to narrow, weaken, or rupture. That damage, in turn, can lead to stroke or heart attack. Arteriosclerosis: This disease involves plaque buildup in the arteries which can result in a serious blockage resulting in stroke or heart attack. Heart disease: When the plaque buildup affects the blood supply to the heart or the coronary arteries, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or a heart attack. When a heart is weakened, it can lead to what’s known as heart failure. Heart failure occurs gradually, and symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, wheezing, and retention of fluids, resulting in swollen feet and ankles. Although many pipe and cigar smokers claim that they don’t inhale, some do, and all of them ingest secondhand smoke close up. Smoking cigars and pipes increases both the risk of heart disease and stroke. Cerebrovascular disease Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is impeded by a blockage or leakage. The more you smoke, the higher your risk for stroke. In fact, strokes are the top cause of serious long-term disability in the United States. The acronym FAST can help you remember the symptoms of a stroke. Here’s what the acronym stands for: Face: Numbness or weakness as evidenced by a droopy or asymmetrical smile. Arms: Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, which can be determined by trying to raise both arms at the same time. With a stroke, one arm may not function the way the other one does. Speech: Confusion or difficulty speaking, or understanding may show themselves. Time: If these symptoms appear, call a doctor immediately. Urgent, prompt attention can improve the outcome greatly. Smoking leads to a host of cerebrovascular problems. It also hijacks the mind, body, and soul. Ted’s story, in the nearby sidebar, “Dying for a smoke,” shows how powerfully addiction leads to deterioration in health, but also impedes recovery. Checking for peripheral artery disease With peripheral artery disease (PAD), plaque builds up in the arteries of the outer (or peripheral) part of the body, most commonly the legs. PAD results in pain, cramping, weakness, and numbness in the extremities. If the blood flow is sufficiently restricted, it can also lead to a high risk of infection, which is difficult to treat. Those with severe PAD, can develop gangrene in the affected tissues, which can lead to amputation or even death. Smoking and diabetes are both risk factors for PAD. How smoking affects lungs From the moment a smoker inhales for the first time, the lungs rebel. Most first-timers choke and cough as part of this rebellion. But the lungs adapt after a while and seem just fine again — until they’re not so fine. In addition to lung problems directly caused by smoking, smoking exacerbates preexisting asthma, makes recovery from colds or flu slower, and can increase the risk of pneumonia. See your doctor for any cough that lasts for three weeks or more or immediately if you’re coughing up blood. Confronting coughs Most smokers develop a smokers’ cough. It’s caused by toxins setting up shop in your lungs, which the body tries to eliminate by coughing. In the beginning, it’s a dry, unproductive cough without phlegm. As time passes, it becomes more frequent, gets worse in the morning, and starts producing phlegm. Treatments designed for typical coughs are not particularly effective for smoker’s cough. Eventually, smoker’s cough often leads to more serious conditions. Taking a turn for the worse Many people fear lung cancer as the worst outcome of long-term smoking, and for good reason. However, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranks pretty high on the list, too. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks COPD the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. As COPD progresses, the lungs struggle to function properly. The lung tissues thicken, which makes it more difficult to inhale and exhale. More mucus is also produced as the disease progresses. Again, our intention is not to scare you, but people with end-stage COPD have great difficult breathing and become cognitively impaired due to the lack of oxygen. Most experience substantial anxiety because of being unable to catch their breath, which can turn into feelings of drowning. Although there are medications for easing symptoms for a while, there is no cure for COPD. Smoking causes at least 75 percent of all cases of COPD. COPD is often used as an umbrella term encompassing both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is bronchitis that persists for months, often recurring over years. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include Shortness of breath Unusually low energy Cough Overproduction of mucus or phlegm Sometimes fever The most severe symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath. That shortness of breath may appear when going for a long walk at first. However, as the disease progresses, shortness of breath becomes much worse and can be evoked by almost doing nothing, even when sitting. Also, people with advanced emphysema suffer chronic fatigue, poor alertness, and blue or gray fingernails. Confronting lung cancer Eighty percent to 90 percent of all lung cancers appear to be caused by smoking. Most lung cancers are not diagnosed in the early stages, which is why about half of all patients die in the first year following diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is just under 20 percent. We should note that a few new, targeted medications and immunotherapy hold some promise for future improvements in these outcomes. Smoking light or menthol cigarettes does not reduce a smoker’s risk of lung cancer compared to regular cigarettes. However, smoking unfiltered cigarettes doubles the risk of lung cancer for smokers. Filters do not make cigarettes safe in any way, shape, or form. But if you’re going to smoke something, come hell or high water, at least consider avoiding unfiltered cigarettes. Early detection greatly improves survival rates. If you’re a smoker, consider going to www.lung.org for a free quiz that you can use to determine if you’re eligible for a low-dose CT screening exam that could save your life. Normally, the first sign of lung cancer is a cough that doesn’t go away. Hoarseness, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, weight loss, and frequent lung infections represent more concerning symptoms. Don’t wait; if you think you’re at high risk or you have some of these symptoms, see your healthcare professional right away. When it comes to your risk of heart disease, stroke, and especially COPD and lung cancer, you may think you’ve succeeded at dodging the bullet if you use smokeless tobacco. Although your risk of lung cancer and COPD may be lower as a smokeless tobacco user, that’s not necessarily the case for many other forms of cancer. In the next section, we look at some of the health risks faced by smokeless tobacco users. HTPs have not yet been linked to lung cancer. And tobacco companies claim that they’re safer than cigarettes. We have two problems with this claim: There have not been any long-term studies of the safety of HTPs compared to cigarettes. You’re inhaling the vapor of the entire tobacco product. Indeed, HTPs don’t involve the range of carcinogenic materials and chemicals of burned tobacco, but they do contain some of the same toxins. Other cancers caused by smoking Smoking not only devastates the lungs and circulatory system but also is responsible for many otherwise preventable cancers. Cancer involves cells going wild dividing and invading healthy tissue. Cancer cells move stealthily through the blood and lymphatic system. Toxic chemicals from tobacco make emerging cancer cells more likely and stopping cancer cells more difficult. Warning signs of cancer include Unexplained weight loss Persistent cough or hoarseness Sores that take too long to heal Unexplained lumps that appear anywhere on the body Bleeding or discharge Fatigue If you have any of the troubling signs above, or significant changes in appetite, bowel or bladder routine, or unexplained pain, see your healthcare provider for a checkup. The more cigarettes you smoke and the more years you smoke them, the greater your risk of cancer of most types. Sending toxic chemicals throughout your body has consequences including a higher risk of the following: Mouth and throat cancer Esophageal cancer Cancer of the larynx Cancer of the trachea Pancreatic cancer Stomach cancer Bladder cancer Kidney cancer Liver cancer Cervical cancer Colon and rectum cancer Leukemia Whether smoky or smokeless, using tobacco causes cancer. For those who smoke pipes or cigars, chew tobacco, or use snuff, the resulting cancer is mainly found in areas that have been directly exposed to the tobacco, such as the mouth, throat, nose, and sinuses. In addition, smokeless tobacco is associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. How smoking erodes overall health Ingesting poison into your body day after day, not only causes cancer, heart disease, and stroke, but a whole lot of other heartache. Smoking negatively impacts every part of your body. Smoking increases the risk for a variety of disorders, from loss of hearing to loss of bone mass. The following problems have been linked to smoking: Hearing loss: Smoking decreases oxygen levels, which negatively effects the blood vessels that keep the critical hair cells in the inner ear healthy. Cataracts and macular degeneration: Smoking tobacco substantially increases the risk of eye problems. Some studies have found that smokeless tobacco also increases risk. Crohn’s disease: Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. Smoking is a risk factor, and it can lead to more disease. Periodontal disease: This disease involves chronic infections of the gums around the teeth. Tobacco use makes it worse, and chewing tobacco is a particular risk. Type 2 diabetes: This chronic disease impacts health negatively across a variety of domains and is 30 percent to 40 percent more likely to occur for smokers as compared to nonsmokers. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is a chronic, autoimmune disease, and smoking has been shown to increase its risk and severity. Osteoarthritis: It’s unknown exactly why, but smoking actually seems to confer some small benefit for reducing this disease of the cartilage that protects the ends of bones. Given all the other problems smoking causes, it hardly seems worth going for this mild benefit. Osteoporosis: This disease involves a deterioration of bone density. The more cigarettes you smoke, the more likely you’ll have osteoporosis and break bones. And if you do break a few bones, they’ll heal more slowly. Ulcers: Evidence suggests that ingesting tobacco increases the risk of stomach ulcers and slows healing. You could almost get the impression that the human body just isn’t designed to handle cigarette smoke or tobacco products.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 07-03-2023

At least 330 million people in the world have asthma, which is a life-long lung disease characterized by respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be well managed and controlled with new and innovative medications and treatments. You and your doctor can design a step-by-step plan for living with your condition and preventing asthma attacks.

Article / Updated 06-06-2023

Taking your medications as prescribed is one way to keep your Crohn’s and colitis under control. However, the disease can become active despite taking medications. Certain things are known to trigger Crohn’s and colitis flares or increase your symptoms. But if you know about these triggers ahead of time — and avoid them — you can help yourself stay in remission and avoid flares. Here are the common triggers for Crohn’s and colitis: Smoking: Smoking not only increases your risk of having Crohn’s disease, but also makes the disease worse, causing you to have more flares. Studies have also shown that smoking brings Crohn’s disease back after surgery. Drugs: A variety of drugs can trigger Crohn’s and colitis symptoms, including frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Motrin, Advil, or Aleve. Certain antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin and penicillin) increase your risk of having infection of your intestines, which can mimic acute flare. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about medications you’ve been prescribed. Don’t stop taking a prescribed antibiotic without consulting with your doctor first. Diet: Certain foods may give you more problems than others, but everyone reacts differently to different foods — so what your sibling with Crohn’s or colitis can tolerate and what you can tolerate may be different. Pay attention to which foods are giving you trouble and avoid them in the future. Here are some common culprits: Artificial sweeteners Fatty foods High-fiber food Gas-producing food (lentils, beans, legumes, broccoli) Caffeine Spicy foods Nuts and seeds Dairy products (if you’re lactose intolerant) Wheat and other products (if you’re sensitive to gluten) Alcohol: Studies have not shown that drinking adversely affects the inflammation in Crohn’s and colitis patients. Alcohol does, however, irritate the intestines and can worsen symptoms of diarrhea in some patients. It can also interact with certain medications you may take for your disease, such as metronidazole and methotrexate. Dehydration: Active disease makes you go to the restroom frequently, causing you to lose water and salt and putting you at risk for dehydration. Dehydration itself can cause stress to your body functions and cause more weakness and inability to cope with illness. And a vicious cycle starts. . . . Bottom line: Stay hydrated by drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of clean water a day. The amount of water you need may vary depending on your age, weight, activity level, and body fluid losses (such as water lost during diarrhea). Talk with your doctor and dietitian about your total daily water requirement. Depression: Studies have shown that depression can cause disease flare. You can have more symptoms and an increase in inflammation of the intestines when you’re depressed. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant to treat depression and, thus, reduce the symptoms of your Crohn’s or colitis. Be sure to talk with your doctor if you’re feeling depressed. Lack of sleep: Sleep can affect the immune system, and poor sleep or sleep deprivation can activate inflammation. Poor sleepers tend to have more inflammation of their intestines and are at risk for future flares. Getting an uninterrupted seven to eight hours of sleep can keep your symptoms at a bay. Stress: Stress has a negative impact on the immune system. Physical and emotional stress has been shown to cause disease flare and an increase in symptoms. Nobody has a stress-free life, but do what you can to keep your stress at a minimum, even if that means taking a yoga class or dropping the kids off at your health club’s daycare center while you sit in the sauna for 30 minutes. (Just make sure to stay hydrated if you’re sweating out your stress.)

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-15-2023

To overcome an addiction, first you need to recognize addiction in yourself or a loved one. Then, explore addiction recovery programs and treatment methods and decide how to deal with your addictive behavior, or that of a family member or friend.