Disorders and Diseases

Disease and its Causes
by William Thomas Councilman, M.D.
There is great difficulty, in the case of a subject so large and complex as is disease, in giving a definition which will be accurate and comprehensive. Disease may be defined as 'A change produced in living things in consequence

Guard Your Fingers and Toes: The Threat of Raynaud's
by National Institute of Health
Hypothermia, frostbite, that pesky winter cold that seems to hang on until spring - these are typical health hazards when it's cold. But have you heard of Raynaud's phenomenon? Less well-known, it also strikes susceptible people in cold temperatures.

Crohn's Disease: New Experimental Treatment
by National Institute of Health
Crohn's disease didn't slow Jane down at first. Prescribed drugs subdued her symptoms. A bright and energetic teenager, Jane excelled in high school and was accepted to Cornell. But during her college career the medication stopped working.

Drought in Your Mouth?: An Overlooked Problem
by National Institute of Health
Dry mouth. It doesn't receive a great deal of attention. But if you're among the thousands of people who suffer from chronic dryness of the mouth, then you know how unpleasant, annoying and even dangerous it can be.

Myths about Kidney Stones
by National Institute of Health
Kidney stones. Just mention them and people cringe - and for good reason. They are one of the most painful conditions a person can have. Chances are you know someone who's had them. More people are developing kidney stones, and researchers are trying

A Pain in the Pelvis: Spreading Cells Can Cause a Condition Called Endometriosis
by National Institute of Health
Pain can be the first sign that something's wrong - cramping pain in the pelvis or pain during sex. But for women of childbearing age, difficulty getting pregnant is most often what leads them to see a doctor.

History for Your Health: Collecting Family History to Prevent Disease
by National Institute of Health
Many people collect their family history for a hobby. Did you know it might help save your life, too? Your doctor can use your family's health history to help figure out your risk of developing cancer, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, depression

Make the Kidney Connection: Millions at Risk for Kidney Disease
by National Institute of Health
Do you know the main causes of kidney disease? If not, you're not alone. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading risk factors for chronic kidney disease, which affects nearly 20 million Americans.

Listen Up!: Coping With Hearing and Speech Problems
by National Institute of Health
Did you know that almost 42 million Americans suffer from a communication disorder - a problem with their speech, voice, language or hearing? That number includes people in all stages of life, but those most likely to be affected are the most vulnerable

Aches in Your Legs: Understanding Peripheral Arterial Disease
by National Institute of Health
If you're past age 50, you may have resigned yourself to feeling a few more aches these days. However, if you've had pain or cramping in your legs when you're walking that goes away when you stop, don't shrug it off.

Of Guts and Gluten: In Celiac Disease, the Two Don't Mix
by National Institute of Health
What if you couldn't eat bread? Or pasta? Or cookies? What if you couldn't eat anything containing wheat, rye and barley because of gluten, a protein found in these grains? You would be among the millions of American who get gas, diarrhea

Restless Legs Syndrome: Treatment
by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a medical condition characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs, including burning, tugging, and tightening, and feels 'like insects crawling inside the legs,' according to the National Institute of Neurological

Understanding Wegener's Granulomatosis
by National Institute of Health
Wegener's granulomatosis is an uncommon disease, in which the blood vessels are inflamed (vasculitis). This inflammation damages important organs of the body by limiting blood flow to those organs and destroying normal tissue.

Understanding Mastocytosis
by National Institute of Health
Mastocytosis is a disorder in both children and adults. It is caused by the presence of too many mast cells in your body. You can find mast cells in skin, linings of the stomach and intestine, and connective tissue (such as cartilage or tendons).

Pneumococcal Pneumonia
by National Institute of Health
Pneumococcal pneumonia mainly causes illness in children younger than 2 years old and adults 65 years of age or older. The elderly are especially at risk of getting seriously ill and dying from this disease. In addition, people with certain medical

Microbes: In Sickness and in Health
by National Institute of Health
Microbes are tiny organisms - too tiny to see without a microscope, yet they are abundant on Earth. They live everywhere - in air, soil, rock, and water. Some live happily in searing heat, while others thrive in freezing cold.

Understanding Smallpox
by National Institute of Health
Smallpox is a disfiguring and potentially deadly infectious disease caused by the Variola major virus. Before smallpox was eradicated, there were two forms of the disease worldwide: Variola major, the deadly disease, and Variola minor, a much milder form.

Understanding Anthrax
by National Institute of Health
Anthrax, notorious for its role in the fall 2001 bioterror attacks, is a disease caused by a microbe known as Bacillus anthracis. In the fall of 2001, lethal anthrax bacteria were spread deliberately through the U.S. mail.

Understanding Ulcerative Colitis
by National Institute of Health
Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. Ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon, then bleed and produce pus.

Blood Transfusions and Organ Donations
by CDC
After unexplained neurological illnesses resulted in two organ recipients from one donor, serum and plasma collected from the donor were retrieved and tested. The samples tested positive for WNV IgM and IgG antibodies, but were negative for WNV RNA by PCR