Disorder

Symptoms

Causes

Treatments

• dry, scratchy, or sore throat
• runny nose or congestion
• sneezing triggered by nasal congestion
• headache as a result of congestion
• earaches, also brought on by the congestion (especially in children)
• slight fever and chills (more common in children than adults)
• coughing, usually dry at first but later can be accompanied by sputum and phlegm

• Fluids, Bed Rest, warm salt gargle for a sore throat, and humidifiers

• Nasal decongestants, in pill, spray or drops.
• Cough suppressants usually contain dextromethorphan.
• Expectorants, which loosen congestion.
• Antihistamines, which have a drying effect on a runny nose but can actually make congestion worse.
• While vitamin C has been recommended to prevent the common cold, studies looking at this claim haven’t been able to prove its benefit. Similarly, the herb echinacea has also been promoted for both the prevention and curing of colds, but there are few scientific studies to support this.

• sudden high fever
• headache
• loss of appetite
• severe muscle aches and pain
• extreme fatigue and weakness
• chills
• dry cough
• sweating
• sore throat
• runny nose
• nasal congestion
• sneezing.

• Vaccination
• Get plenty of rest
• Drink a lot of liquids
• Avoid using alcohol and tobacco
• Stay home and avoid contact with other people to protect them from catching your illness
• Some over-the-counter medications can help relieve the symptoms of flu such as fever, aches and pains.
• Do not give ASA to children/teenagers

Chronic bronchitis features regular coughing and spitting up of a great deal of thick mucus – up to an ounce a day. This mucus can partly block the airways, making breathing difficult. The condition is often dismissed as smoker’s cough. The coughing is often ignored until the lungs have already been damaged. The result is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This can lead to a chronic lack of oxygen. Signs such as blue lips and nail beds may be noticed. People with this condition tend to become sedentary.

Chronic bronchitis The most important cause by far is smoking. Exposure to some pollutants can also contribute to chronic bronchitis. A growing number of specialists believe that some kind of infection is a necessary final trigger of chronic bronchitis.

• Antibiotics are normally only prescribed if a bacterium is the cause. If a virus is the problem, the infection will generally go away by itself.
• Over-the-counter painkillers are used to control the fever symptoms of a viral infection. Children should never take ASA* for a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can cause Reye’s syndrome, which is a rare and lethal inflammation of the brain.
• Cough medications used are either suppressants (which control the cough) or expectorants (which allow the cough to clear mucus from the airways).
• Bronchodilators are inhaled medications that help open up the airways. They are usually taken as a “puffer” (metered-dose inhaler) or as a mist used with a mask (nebuliser).

Medications for chronic bronchitis include:

• bronchodilators.
• corticosteroids such as prednisone, sometimes given when chronic bronchitis suddenly becomes worse. These drugs help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the airways.

Non-medication remedies for bronchitis include:

• drinking plenty of fluids helps to thin out the mucus so it is easier to get rid of.
• using a cool or warm moist-air humidifier helps to thin the mucus blocking the air passages. Humidifiers should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s directions to make sure bacteria or mould does not build up inside the machine.
• exercising regularly.
• in some cases, taking oxygen therapy. This may be recommended for severe chronic bronchitis, especially when the symptoms suddenly worsen. Many chronic bronchitis sufferers find that “home oxygen therapy” is helpful when they have difficulty breathing. This therapy is only useful if a measurement of oxygenation shows that the oxygen level in your blood is low.

• A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
• Chest pain that doesn’t go away
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling short of breath
• Wheezing
• Losing your voice (hoarseness)
• Getting sick with pneumonia and bronchitis a lot
• Swollen neck and face
• Not hungry, losing weight without trying
• Feeling tired

* Radon. Radon is a colourless, odourless gas found in the soil in many parts of the country. Radon can enter a building through cracks in the foundation or insulation, or through drains or walls. People who have a high exposure to radon are at higher risk of lung cancer. Read more about radon

* Asbestos. Asbestos is a heat-resistant mineral found in some workplaces and homes. It has been used in brake pads, insulation, siding, and many other products. People who have a high exposure to asbestos are at higher risk of lung cancer. Read more about asbestos

* Other toxic products: uranium, arsenic, some petroleum products may also increase the risk of developing lung cancer

• Pneumonectomy: one entire lung is removed
• Lobectomy: a section (lobe) of the lung is removed
• Segmentectomy/wedge resection: part of a lobe is removed
• Laser surgery: a high-energy beam of light destroys the cancer cells in a tumour

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. The radiation can be delivered by a machine that directs the high-energy rays towards your cancer, or by a small radioactive pellet that gets implanted in or near the tumour.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy means taking anti-cancer drugs, either by swallowing them or by injection.

* Chest tightness

* Coughing

* Feeling short of breath

Air pollution indoors and out: some research shows that people who live near major highways and other polluted places are more likely to get asthma. Also, kids who grow up in a home with mould or dust may be more likely to get asthma.

Work-related asthma (occupational exposure): People who work in certain types of jobs can get asthma from things they work with. For example:

* Laboratory workers can get asthma from lab animals: rats, mice, guinea-pigs

* Spray painters can get asthma from isocyanates

* Grain handlers can get asthma from grain dust

* Crab processors can get asthma from crab dust

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, a government agency, offers more information on occupational asthma.

Second-hand smoke: Kids whose mothers smoked while pregnant, who grow up in a smoky house, or whose grandmothers smoked, are all more likely to get asthma.

1.  Asthma preventer (controller) medicine : You take your preventer medicine every day, even if you have no symptoms, to make sure your airways stay clear and to prevent redness, mucus and swelling.

2. Asthma rescue medicine: You keep your rescue medicine on hand and take it only when you need it – during an asthma attack, if your breathing gets bad, or (sometimes) before exercising.

Disorder

Symptoms

Causes

Treatments

* If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries leading to your brain, you may have symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, or drooping muscles in your face.

* If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries in your arms and legs, you may have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, such as leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication).

Sometimes atherosclerosis causes erectile dysfunction in men.

* High cholesterol

* An irritant, such as nicotine

* Certain diseases, such as diabetes

* Anti-platelet medications. Your doctor may prescribe anti-platelet medications, such as aspirin, to reduce the likelihood that platelets will clump in narrowed arteries, form a blood clot and cause further blockage.

* Anticoagulants. An anticoagulant, such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin), can help thin your blood to prevent clots from forming.

* Blood pressure medications. Medications to control blood pressure – such as beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers – can help slow the progression of atherosclerosis.

* Other medications. Your doctor may suggest certain medications to control specific risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as diabetes. Sometimes medications to treat symptoms of atherosclerosis, such as leg pain during exercise, are prescribed.

* Shortness of breath on exertion

* Jaw pain, back pain, or arm pain, especially on left side, either during exertion or at rest

* Palpitations (a sensation of rapid or very strong heart beats in your chest)

* Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting

* Weakness on exertion or at rest

Irregular heartbeat

* High cholesterol: Levels of cholesterol in the blood are above healthy levels. This usually involves high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol.

* Tobacco abuse: This includes not only smoking any form of tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipes), but also chewing tobacco.

* Obesity

* High blood pressure (hypertension)

* Diabetes

* Lack of regular exercise

* High-fat diet

* Emotional stress

* Type A personality (impatient, aggressive, competitive)

Beta-blockers

Calcium channel blockers

Statins

Coronary angioplasty

Stent:

Atherectomy

Brachytherapy:

* anxiety

* sweating

* confusion

* nausea and vomiting

* temporary changes in vision

* lightheadedness

Most heart attacks occur when the lining of an artery ruptures and the atherosclerotic plaque is exposed. Blood then forms a clot on the damaged artery, which may partially or completely obstruct blood flow. If the blockage gets severe enough, heart attack symptoms appear, and heart muscle cells may start to die, this is now considered a heart attack.

Rarely, a coronary artery spasm stops blood flow through an apparently healthy coronary artery, causing a heart attack. Most of the time there’s no identifiable cause.

* staying physically active and incorporating regular exercise into a daily routine; exercise will help with weight reduction and will lower cholesterol

* watching your diet – you may ned to consult a nutritionist for advice about healthy foods that can help to lower cholesterol

If someone experiences symptoms that might be a heart attack, they should call an ambulance right away. A variety of effective treatments, including thrombolytic (”clot-busting”) medications, are available to heart attack victims, but these must be given quickly in order to be effective. 50% of deaths due to heart attack occur within 3 to 4 hours of the beginning of the symptoms. Depending on the hospital, you may be brought directly to the cardiac catheterization laboratory to do an angioplasty, a procedure where a tiny balloon will break open the clot directly. The most important thing you need to do is the reach the hospital as quickly as possible. This will increase the chance of survival.

The hospital’s primary tasks during a heart attack are to stop the damage to heart cells by restoring blood flow, and to deal with complications like ventricular fibrillation. The first medication a person will be given upon entering the hospital is a chewable ASA* (acetylsalicylic acid) tablet. This will help inhibit platelets from forming a blood clot, preventing further blockage of the artery. A range of medications is usually given to reduce the heart’s workload, to dissolve the clot, and to prevent further clotting. An oxygen mask may also be used to increase the level of oxygen in the blood.

A defibrillator is a pair of high-voltage paddles, often seen on television. Its purpose is to stop ventricular fibrillation.

After a heart attack, 1 or 2 days of bed rest is usually necessary, but staying bedridden too long can prevent the heart from regaining strength and tends to worsen natural feelings of nervousness or depression. Most people are able to walk a few steps on the third day, but should be careful about straining and lifting heavy objects for a few months. Medication therapy with ASA or clopidogrel is commonly given to prevent the blood from clotting. Other drugs called beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors may also be prescribed. These medications help reduce the heart’s workload and allow easier blood flow from the heart. Cholesterol medications are also important even if you have “normal” cholesterol levels. Your doctor needs to make this decision depending upon your risk of having another heart attack.

If you smoke, it is very important to stop immediately. Heart attack is a complication of coronary artery disease, and it’s best prevented by avoiding the risk factors for coronary artery disease, including smoking.

The early treatment of a heart attack aims to restore blood flow and preserve heart muscle. After a heart attack occurs, you need rehabilitation or post-MI care for the heart to heal and to prevent future attacks. Cardiac rehabilitation programs can usually be planned for in hospital and, depending on the severity of the heart attack, may continue for weeks or months once you return home. Post-MI management includes medication, lifestyle changes, and psychological care.

Finally, following a heart attack, some patients may suffer from depression or experience psychological difficulties related to anxiety or anger. Rehabilitation programs offer help in these areas, providing support and counselling for those who may need it. Although having a heart attack can be a frightening experience, most people can return to their normal activities.

• fatigue
• general discomfort
• fever
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• shortness of breath, heart palpitations, paleness, weakness
• frequent infections
• sore throat
• night sweats
• headache, vomiting, vision problems
• bone or joint pain
• enlarged lymph nodes
• abdominal discomfort or feeling of fullness

Age – some types of leukemia are more common in children, while others are more likely to affect adults.

*

Sometimes leukemia may develop years after very high exposure to radiation.

*

Some genetic disorders (such as Down’s syndrome) increase the risk of developing acute leukemia.

The risk of developing AML (acute mylogenous leukemia) increases in people who have other diseases affecting the bone marrow, exposure to the chemical benzene, or exposure to certain cancer treatment drugs.

Mutation of Cells

* radiation therapy

* biological therapy

* bone marrow or stem cell transplant

o    Paleness

o    Feeling tired

o    More shortness of breath during exercise

o    Fast heartbeat

o    Symptoms usually come on slowly so that you feel no sudden change in your energy level

Growth spurts. Children under age three are growing so fast that their bodies may have a hard time keeping up with the amount of iron they need.

Pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding need more iron. That’s why pregnant women may be tested for anemia and why they need to eat more iron-rich foods or may need to take a daily iron pill.

Blood loss. This is the most common reason for iron deficiency anemia in adults. Women, of course, lose blood every month during their periods. Heavy periods may cause anemia.

Blood loss can also be caused by internal bleeding, usually in the digestive tract.

Pernicious anemia is from low B12 and so you would need B12 shots. Vegan vegetarians can also develop low B12