Diseases and conditions affecting our bodies

  Leukaemia Introduction Leukemia is cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow. The bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside some bones, and it’s where the body makes blood cells. In leukemia, blood cells are not produced the way they should be and may have too many, too few, or blood cells that don't work properly.  Many types exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Leukemia occurs in adults above the age of 55 or children younger than 15 years old. Symptoms Leukemia symptoms vary, depending on the type of leukemia. Slow-growing types of leukemia don't have symptoms. Rapidly growing types of leukemia may cause symptoms that include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections and easy bleeding or bruising. Common leukemia signs and symptoms include: Fever or chills Persistent fatigue, weakn...

  BLOG   Hypertension  overview  Hypertension is a common disorder in which the long-term force of blood on the  walls of arteries is high enough to cause health problems, such as heart disease.  Blood pressure is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and resistance  to arterial blood flow. The more blood the heart pumps, the narrower the arteries  and the higher the blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are in millimeters of  mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure above 140/90, which is considered severe if it is  above 180/120  Organ system effects  Arterial damage  High blood pressure gradually increases the pressure of blood flowing through the  arteries. High blood pressure can cause:  Damaged and narrowed arteries. High blood pressure can damage the cells lining  the arteries. When dietary fats enter the bloodstream, they collect in damaged  arteries. Eventually, the arterial walls become ...

  Asthma and Heart Attack Asthma What is Asthma? Asthma can be defined as a condition which causes a person's airways to become inflamed and narrow along with the production of extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms: There are many common signs to help identify asthma, some of them are:   Shortness of breath. Chest tightness or pain. Wheezing when exhaling Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. Coughing or wheezing attacks Feeling tired, easily upset, grouchy, or moody. Frequent coughing, especially at night.   Causes of Asthma: There are many events that might lead to us being affected by asthma, some of them are:   infections like colds and flu. Allergies, such as pollen, dust mites, animal fur or feathers. smoke, fumes and pollution. Medicines, particularly anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin. emotions, including stress, or laughter. Genetics, the most common cause of asthma is genetic, meanin...

Diabetes  What is Diabetes? In 1910, Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer proposed that diabetes developed when there was a lack of a particular chemical that the pancreas produced. He called it insulin, meaning island because the cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce it. Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin How does Diabetes happen? Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high . Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy What are the consequences of diabetes? Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the body's organs...