Called autoimmune disease, these attacks can affect any part of the body, weakening bodily function and even turning life-threatening. If you are giving a presentation about an environmental health topic or just looking for general information about environmental health research or the institute, this page will help. Mayo Clinic’s highly specialized heart experts diagnose and treat more than 200 heart conditions, including many rare and complex disorders, providing the most appropriate care for you. To search for patient organizations and other pages related to this topic, use the Advanced Search function at the top right corner of the page. Use this page to find information on a variety of infectious diseases. Humans, other animals, and plants are all susceptible to diseases of some sort.
This usage appears in statements that describe a patient as being in critical medical conditions for example. Although common and costly, many chronic diseases are also preventable. Many chronic diseases are linked to lifestyle choices that are within your own hands to change. Eating nutritious foods, becoming more physically active, and avoiding tobacco can help keep you from developing many of these diseases and conditions. In humans, the disease is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, or death to the person affected, or similar problems for those in contact with the person. Diseases can affect people not only physically, but also mentally, as contracting and living with a disease can alter the affected person’s perspective on life.
Among psychologists, the term may refer specifically to psychotherapy or “talk therapy”. Common treatments include medications, surgery, medical devices, and self-care. Treatments may be provided by an organized health care system, or informally, by the patient or family members. Social determinants of health are the social conditions in which people live that determine their health.
From asthma to ulcers, this section is loaded with articles about diseases and conditions that can affect teens. Look here for health information and resources for yourself or someone you care about. If you exhibit signs of dehydration, including extreme thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, and severe weakness, get medical help immediately. If you cannot replace lost fluids by sipping clear liquids, you may need intravenous fluids and hospitalization. Although most headaches do not signal underlying medical problems, if your headaches change in nature or location, or become more severe, frequent, and/or intense, you should consult your health care provider.
Avoid diuretics, like caffeine and alcohol, that contribute to fluid loss. Gradually return to a regular diet, but wait about 8 hours from the last time you vomited. Start with foods like dry toast, crackers, rice, and other foods that are easy to digest. Exercise to facilitate the passage of gas through the digestive tract. Mononucleosis is an illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is spread through saliva. Develop suddenly, accompanied by a fever over 101°F and are not relieved by acetaminophen or aspirin, especially if there is pain or stiffness in the neck.
Medical disorders can be categorized into mental disorders, physical disorders, genetic disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, and functional disorders. The term disorder is often considered more value-neutral and less stigmatizing than the terms disease or illness, and therefore is preferred terminology in some circumstances. While the term medical condition generally includes mental illnesses, in some contexts the term is used specifically to denote any illness, injury, or disease except for mental illnesses.
In studying diseases, epidemiology faces the challenge of defining them. Especially for poorly understood diseases, different groups might use significantly different definitions. Without an agreed-on definition, different researchers may report different numbers of cases and characteristics of the disease.