A to Z : Most Dangerous Diseases

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A to Z : Most Dangerous Diseases:

• A for Asthma
  
• B for Bird flu
  
• C for Cancer
  
• D for Diabetes

Diabetes



Diabetes is a chronic hormonal disease, which causes high levels of sugar in the blood. It is a result of either the lack of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, or your body’s inability to respond to this hormone. High blood sugar levels caused by lack of this hormone is called type 1 diabetes. It is a genetic condition caused by faulty genes that make this chemical and affects mostly young adults and teenagers. When your blood sugar levels escalate due to the failure of response to this hormone, it is known as type 2 diabetes. It is a more common type of diabetes and is also known as ‘adult onset diabetes’. This condition is triggered mainly by lifestyle factors like an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Today, type 2 diabetes is one of the most common ‘lifestyle diseases’ among people across the world. This is unfortunate because it can also increase your risk of conditions like heart diseases and hypertension.
Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are excessive hunger, frequent urination and increased thirst. While type 1 diabetes is difficult to manage, type 2 can be controlled by making simple changes in your daily routine.

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Cancer




According to The World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the top-most cancer death among women. The estimates of this world body suggest that this cancer affects 2.1 million women every year, globally. WHO figured also reveal that in 2018 alone, the death toll of breast cancer was 62,700. This constitutes almost 15 per cent of cancer-induced deaths among the female population.
Breast cancer is a condition where breast cells divide and multiply uncontrollably due to mutation in certain genes. Generally, cancer forms in the milk-producing glands (lobules) of the breast or in the pathways (ducts)transporting the milk from glands to ******. Fatty or the fibrous connective tissues of the breast can also be the hotspot for cancerous cells. In some cases, cancer cells may travel to the lymph nodes under your arms and spread to different parts of the body.
There are different types and stages of breast cancer. Also, it can affect men, rarely though.

According to a study published in the Lancent oncology, around 6 – 7 lakh death were caused by cancer in the year 2012 and the cases are rising ever year. This is the reason, why every person has to be well aware of various symptoms and cause of different types of cancer. To help you out, common types of cancer are listed below –

• Oral cancer
• Breast cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Cancers in children
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Skin cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Oesophageal cancer
• Uterine cancer

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Thyroid



Your thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck, performs a very important function—secreting two hormones, T3 and T4. They help in metabolism, the process through which your food gets converted to the energy that your body needs. This whole process is regulated by your pituitary gland located at the centre of the skull.

What is Thyroid Disorder?
In thyroid disorder, your thyroid gland is unable to produce the right amount of hormones. This leads to various complications like raising your heartbeat, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, nervousness, inability to endure cold temperatures, so on and so forth. Broadly speaking, there are two types of thyroid disorders: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Various risk factors, starting from genetic predisposition to health conditions like diabetes can up your risk of these conditions.

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Bird flu



Bird flu also known as avian influenza is a disease that’s caused by viruses and affects birds and can be passed on to humans. Bird flu’s H5N1 strain has evolved such that it infects more species than any known strain and is constantly evolving. If a farm-raised bird gets affected it must be immediately culled to stop the virus from spreading.
It’s not particularly dangerous for humans yet. There are some researchers who believe that if this strain mutates and starts spreading between humans it could cause a large scale pandemic.

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Ebola virus




The on-going Ebola outbreak in the West African countries is so far the worst in the history of the deadly disease. The virus seems to have gripped the world’s interest due to its destructive potential, claiming nearly 7000 lives in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea — worst-hit Ebola nations in West Africa. Although a few cases of Ebola have been reported from Australia, America and other nations of the world, no positive cases of Ebola virus in India have been reported till date. Read about how Ebola virus originated.

The WHO (World health Organization) has claimed that with proper sanitation measures and Ebola screening practices, it is possible to restrict the spread of Ebola virus. The Indian Government is leaving no stone unturned to restrict the entry of Ebola virus in India. The Government plans to tackle Ebola emergency include mock drills to evaluate preparedness of plans, setting up a control room and a helpline for Ebola information in national capital, installing Ebola screening centres at major airports and spreading awareness about the Ebola viral disease.

Ebola virus in India: India, being a nation harbouring a huge population, could easily facilitate the spread of the virus, once it enters the nation. Moreover, lack of proper healthcare facilities and lack of natural immunity against the virus can cause the disease to spread rapidly. Given that the virus mutates rapidly and has a high fatality rate, the virus should never gain entry into the country. In order to help you stay safe from this deadly disease, here are all your questions about the condition — answered.

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Swine flu




Swine flu or the H1N1 influenza A virus affected humans for the first time in 2009 and WHO declared it as a pandemic in 2010. But globally, people have now developed immunity against this virus. So, it’s no more a cause of major concern. Now, the H1N1 virus is like any other regular human flu virus that affects us during the flu season.

What is Swine Flu?


The H1N1 type A influenza is a viral infection which originally was transmitted from pigs to humans. Now, it spreads from one human to another. The symptoms of swine flu are very similar to regular influenza and include fever, headaches, chills, diarrhoea, coughing and sneezing. One can prevent the infection by maintaining basic hygiene and wearing a proper surgical mask during flu season. The number of cases shoots up during the summers and monsoon seasons. While there are various vaccines available to prevent the disease, a wide range of antiviral treatments are there to combat it as well. One should however only opt for these medicines under a doctor’s supervision as indiscriminate use might result in susceptibility to the virus.

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Malaria


According to the World Malaria Report 2019 of the World Health Organization (WHO), there were about 228 million cases of this disease in 2018 worldwide. The report estimates that the global death burden of malaria was 405000 in the year. It also reveals that 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India carried almost 85% of the global malaria burden in 2018. There are flour types of parasites that can cause this mosquito-borne disease. One of them, known as Plasmodium falciparum, was highly prevalent in the WHO African region (99.7% cases) and South East Asian region (50% cases) in 2018. The incidence of P. vivax, another malaria-causing parasite was also high in the later (53% of the global burden) in the year. Out of the total number of P. vivax malaria cases in South East Asia, the majority were from India (47%) in 2018.

What is Malaria?


Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease characterised by high fever and chills. Transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, it can be caused by four parasites: Plasmodium (P) vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. falciparum. However, there can be other modes of transmission too. You can catch malaria if you are exposed to infected blood during transfusion or while sharing needles to inject drugs. A mother can also pass it on to the child at birth. The malaria parasites march to your liver after they sneak into your body. After maturing over there, they enter the bloodstream after a few days and attack your red blood cells. Once inside the red blood cells, these parasites take 48 to 72 hours to multiply. This makes your infected cells burst open. You start experiencing the symptoms of malaria as this process continues. P. falciparum leads to the most severe form of malaria. It can be fatal too.

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HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Learning the basics about HIV can keep you healthy and prevent HIV transmission. You can also download materials to share or watch videos on basic information about HIV.

What is HIV?

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
• There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.
• But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

Where did HIV come from?

• HIV infection in humans came from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa.
• The chimpanzee version of the virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) was probably passed to humans when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came in contact with their infected blood.
• Studies show that HIV may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans as far back as the late 1800s.
• Over decades, HIV slowly spread across Africa and later into other parts of the world. We know that the virus has existed in the United States since at least the mid to late 1970s.

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.



The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

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Fatty liver disease



Fatty liver simply means accumulation of fat in the liver. Normal, healthy liver has no fat. It is unclear where the fat comes from. It may be acquired from other parts of the body or the liver may be absorbing an increased amount of fat from the intestine. It could also be possible to explain fat accumulation, if the liver loses its ability to change fat into a form that can be eliminated.

Types
Fatty liver disease can be divided into 2 types – alcohol related and non-alcohol related.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease: It is caused due to heavy alcohol drinking. Alcohol, in general, is bad for the liver because it diverts the liver from its major function of metabolising carbohydrates and providing glucose throughout the body. It destroys the liver cells resulting in fat deposits, causing alcoholic fatty liver disease. The fat in the liver can progressively cause inflammation and scarring of the liver, resulting in cirrhosis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: There are 3 stages of non alcohol related fatty liver disease

• Non-alcoholic fatty Liver (NAFL): It is not as serious as other forms since it doesn’t lead to inflammation.
• Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis (NASH): In this type, permanent liver damage can occur. The liver may enlarge and as the diseases progresses, the liver cells may get replaced by scar tissue causing cirrhosis. A person can also develop liver cancer and life-threatening conditions related to liver like liver failure.
• Cirrhosis: Scarring of the liver tissue leads to cirrhosis.

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Gallstones





Gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac on the right side of the abdomen. It is found just beneath the liver. It stores bile (a digestive fluid) made by the liver which helps in fat digestion. Bile is released into the small intestine through two ducts (tubes) – the cystic duct and common bile duct. Gallstones are hard, calcified structures inside the gall bladder formed due to crystallization of bile. They may also form when the gallbladder fails to empty normally.
Cholelithiasis is a term to describe stones in the gallbladder. Gallstones may pass into the cystic duct, common bile duct or pancreatic duct and are called choledocholithiasis.

Types
Gallstones vary in size from being as small as a grain or as big as a golf ball. There may be a single large stone or many smaller stones.
Cholesterol gallstones -- are the most common type consisting of more than 80% cholesterol by weight.
Pigment gallstones -- are made of bilirubin, a product of red blood cells destruction (haemolysis).

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Retinal detachment



The retina is a thin tissue which lines the inner aspect of the back of the eye ball. When light falls on the eye, it is focused by the optical apparatus of the eye onto the retina which converts it into electrical signals which are carried through the optic nerve to the brain. These signals are perceived and interpreted in the brain.

Causes
Retinal detachment is a condition in which the retina completely or partly detaches from its attachment to the underlying tissues in the eye. The primary cause is usually a retinal tear.

Vitreous, a clear gel like fluid which fills two thirds of the eye ball may sometimes exert a pull on the retina leading to holes or tears in the thin retinal tissue. If fluid from within the eye passes through this retinal tear, it can separate the retina from its underlying tissue and that causes retinal detachment. Congenital retinal detachment though rare, is not very uncommon. A premature newborn suffering from a condition called retinopathy of prematurity can soon develop retinal detachment after birth, if left untreated. Other conditions associated with retinal detachment in children include hereditary vitreoretinal disorders, malformations in the eye and retinal detachment following paediatric cataract surgery. In a few cases, retinal detachment is caused by uveitis and by Coats disease.

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Vitiligo


Vitiligo was originally known by the name of “Shweta kusht”, is a common skin disorder referred to as ‘white leprosy’ or ‘leucoderma’. Because of a limited understanding of vitiligo, people suffering from it often have low self-esteem and experience social isolation to some extent. Moreover, there are many misconceptions associated with vitiligo, e.g., it is contagious and that it has no effective treatment. Moreover, 1% of the global population suffers from vitiligo.

TYPES
Vitiligo can be classified as follows:

• Generalized - This is the most familiar type of vitiligo in which macules are seen in numerous areas of the body.
• Segmental - This is limited to a single area or side of the body such as feet or hands.
• Mucosal - This is primarily observed in the body areas that contain mucous membranes such as the mouth or genitals.
• Focal - This is a rare type of vitiligo. In this, the macules are restricted to a smaller part of the body and remain the same over a couple of years.
• Universal - In this rare type, ~80% of the skin is devoid of pigments.

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Chikungunya


Chikungunya is a disease caused by mosquitoes. It is mostly prevalent in the Asian and African countries. However, incidences of this mosquito-borne disease have been found in some parts of Europe and America. The name “chikungunya” originates from Kimakonde language spoken by an ethnic group in in southeast Tanzania and northern Mozambique. Meaning ‘contortion’, this word refers to the stooped posture of people experiencing severe joint or muscle pain. This is one of the major manifestations of chikungunya.

What is Chikungunya?
This is a virus that you catch from the bite of infected female mosquitoes: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The transmission of chikungunya generally occurs outdoors during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon hours, when these mosquitoes are most active. This viral infection is characterised by an abrupt onset of fever accompanied by severe muscle and joint pain. Other symptoms could be headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

The onset of chikungunya occurs within 3-7 days of a mosquito bite. Though the condition mostly resolves on its own, this infection can be fatal for the elderly population and people with comorbid conditions. There is currently no cure or vaccine for the condition. The treatment is aimed at relief from symptoms like pain, swelling and fever.

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Dengue




Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, is prevalent in areas with tropical and subtropical climate. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this infection is common in more than 100 countries around the world. The estimate of this world body suggests that around 3 billion people live in dengue-prone areas. These include India and parts of South East Asia, China, Africa, Taiwan and Mexico among others. In 2019 alone, India saw more than 67,000 cases of dengue, as suggested by the figures released by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). This report also reveals that 2017 was the worst year for India in terms of dengue with 1.88 lakh cases and 325 deaths.

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Bipolar disorder


Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, wherein the affected person experiences extreme changes in mood, energy, concentration, activity levels and the ability to perform their daily tasks. The mood changes range from periods of depression (feelings of hopelessness, sadness or indifference) to mania (energised, irritable or elated behaviour). The condition can occur in adults as well as in children and adolescents. However, the average age of onset is estimated to be about 25 years. Mood fluctuations in individuals with bipolar disorder can affect their relationship with loved ones, friends and colleagues. Early identification of the condition, following the prescribed treatment plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help individuals with bipolar disorder lead a normal life.

Bipolar disorder is also known by other names, such as, bipolar affective disorder, bipolar mood disorder, manic-depressive illness, manic-depressive disorder and manic depression.

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Appendicitis

For years, the appendix was credited with very little function. But now there is adequate evidence that the appendix serves an important role in the fetus and in young adults. Specific cells which appear in the appendix of the human fetus at around the 11th week of the developmental stage have been shown to produce various essential compounds that control biological mechanisms in the developing baby. Among adult humans also, the appendix is now thought to be involved in some immune functions.

Appendicitis is the inflammation and swelling of the appendix, a small tube like structure protruding from the large intestine. It occurs when the appendix gets blocked with stool or foreign particles passing through the intestine. Blockage may cause infection which results in painful swelling of the appendix. ‘If left alone, the appendix does not cause any problems,’ says Dr Kukreja.