Paget's disease causes an abnormal breakdown of bone issue. This causes bones to reform abnormally, becoming bigger and weaker than before. Paget's disease most frequently involves the arms, collar bone, legs, pelvis or spine. The exact cause is...
Childhood leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells and begins in the bone marrow of the child. White blood cells help the body fight infection. In childhood leukemia, however, the bone marrow begins producing abnormal white blood cells which...
Esophageal cancer is less common in the United States than in other parts of the world, according to MayoClinic.com. Esophageal cancer usually affects the lower portion of the esophagus and often results from chronic irritation. There are many...
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 15 to 54. Although less common among younger women, breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, more likely to be associated with genetic risk factors and have...
Atherosclerotic disease is a process whereby buildup of deposits including cholesterol, triglycerides and calcium in artery walls leads to a narrowing of these vessels, and an inflammatory response attracting white blood cells causes further...
A number of risk factors contribute to high cholesterol. Some are within your control, such as a sedentary lifestyle, weight, smoking and drinking alcohol. Others, such as genetics, are out of your hands. Although high cholesterol in general...
A wide variety of toxic agents can bring on optic nerve atrophy, although heredity and luck certainly play their role in determining whether or not the condition ever evolves. Exposure to lead, alcohol, carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke, the syphilis...
Type 1 diabetes was formerly referred to as juvenile-onset diabetes because it usually begins during childhood or adolescence. Type 1 diabetes is an incurable condition in which the body loses its ability to produce the hormone insulin. In this...
Brain aneurysms are balloon-like bulges in arterial blood vessels. There are two shapes aneurysms can take: the most common is described as saccular where the aneurysm bulges out from the junction of two arteries. Less common is a fusiform...
The most aggressive kind of brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme involves the glial cells of the brain. Regarded as the glue that holds the nervous system together, the glial cells provide oxygen and nutrients to nerve cells, and help to maintain...
According to the Stanford School of Medicine, no one simply "inherits" depression thanks to the genes of their parents. Rather, each person inherits a unique combination of genes, which in certain combinations can predispose her to a particular...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of all deaths in the United States are due to chronic diseases. Lack of physical activity, tobacco use, not consuming enough fruits and vegetables and drinking too much...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuron disease that results in loss of motor control and other bodily functions. In combination with genetic factors, environmental pollutants like manganese have been investigated as possible...
Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychological disorder that alters an individual's perception of reality. The person with schizophrenia may experience auditory and visual hallucinations, suffer from extreme paranoia and be unable to distinguish...
The American Heart Association reports that more than 40 percent of all Americans suffer from high cholesterol. Given that high cholesterol levels predispose people to strokes, you need to know your cholesterol levels and how to reduce them....
Blood cancer is a term that includes leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes. These cancers start in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissue, with a new blood cancer being diagnosed every four minutes, says the Leukemia and Lymphoma...
Calorie-packed snacks, too much screen time and sugar-filled drinks could be almost as harmful to your child as tobacco. Globally, obesity is one of the top 10 preventable health risks, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S., data...
In Crohn's disease, inflammation of the cells that line your digestive tract causes painful cramping, diarrhea and possibly malnutrition. Scientists used to believe that a poor diet and stress brought on Crohn's disease, but now they believe an...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a serious disease that attacks the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves of the central nervous system. A lack of certain nutrients may increase the risk of developing MS. Eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet is...
Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a disease characterized by a loss of control over drinking, preoccupation with drinking, compulsion to drink, inability to stop, and the development of tolerance and dependence. Alcoholics rely on drinking to...
As genetic influences are thought to play a part in bipolar disorder (BPD), when a person is assessed for this condition she is asked whether anyone in her family has, or had, this or any other psychiatric problems.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent type of liver cancer and accounts for 3 out of 4 liver cancers. This type of liver cancer originates in the primary cell of the liver, which is the...
For some, getting pregnant happens quickly and easily. For others, however, getting pregnant proves more difficult. Following some simple tips, from engaging in regular sex to improving your diet and monitoring ovulation, will increase your chance...
Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in American men and women, and sadly it will lead to more than 50,000 deaths in 2010 alone, based on National Cancer Institute estimates. However, despite being one of the most deadly...
Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of diseases linked to an insufficiency of dopamine in the part of the brain known as the basal ganglia. In the United States, more than 1 million people suffer from Parkinson's disease. Risk factors include...
Lifestyle changes may be effective when it comes to lowering your cholesterol, but sometimes they aren't enough. You can eat all the right foods, exercise every day and drop all your bad habits. In the end, it may be necessary to combine your...
Crohn's disease is a condition that affects the digestive system. An inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it causes damage to the tissue that lines the digestive tract. There is no cure for Crohn's disease, but the symptoms can usually be managed.
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that grows increasingly worse. No cure for Alzheimer's disease exists in 2009, and the damage cannot be reversed.
There are several diseases that are common to females in the African American community. Common cultural and genetic factors sometimes increase the risk factors for certain ailments and conditions. Such diseases include diabetes mellitus, heart...
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in your gallbladder or nearby bile ducts. Complications from gallstones can be serious, and even fatal, if left untreated. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and...
