Guide To Health Information

Major Health and Disease Topics

ALS - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Alzheimer’s Disease - Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities.
 
Asthma - Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty.

Birth Defects - Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths.

Cancer - Cancer is a group of many related diseases that begin in cells, the body’s basic building blocks. Scientists have learned that cancer is caused by changes in genes that normally control the growth and death of cells. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in this country. However, improvements in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment have increased the survival rate for many types of cancer.

Developmental Disabilities - Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of physical, cognitive, psychological, sensory, and speech impairments that begin anytime during development up to 18 years of age.

Diabetes - Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Foodborne Illness - Foodborne disease is any infectious disease transmitted via contaminated food. The CDC estimates that every year foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States.

Lead Poisoning - Lead dust causes more lead poisonings than any other lead exposure. It is hard to see, because lead dust particles are of microscopic size. Millions of US homes built before 1978 contain lead dust.

Multiple Sclerosis - MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves.

Obesity - Obesity is a disease that affects nearly one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60 million). The number of overweight and obese Americans has continued to increase since 1960, a trend that is not slowing down. Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S., and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately $100 billion.

Parkinson’s Disease - Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. Parkinson's disease occurs when certain nerve cells, or neurons, die or become impaired. Parkinson's disease occurs when a group of cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra begin to malfunction and die. These cells in the substantia nigra produce a chemical called dopamine.

SARS - Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness that was recognized as a global threat in March 2003, after first appearing in Southern China in November 2002.

West Nile Virus - West Nile Virus (WNV), first identified in Uganda in 1937, infects mosquitoes, birds, humans and horses. WNV is a type of virus that causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.