Medical Site » Diseases- Top 5 Symptoms

Addison’s disease

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:38:15 +0000

Addison’s disease is a disorder where the adrenal glands in your body do not produce sufficient amout of hormones. Adrenals are located on the top of kidneys and secrete certain hormones which are important for the normal functioning of the body. The two important hormones secreted by the adrenals are cortisol and aldosterone and usually it is the cortisol whose level goes down in a patient suffering from Addison’s disease. The disease is also known as adrenal insufficiency and can be life threatening. The disease may occur due to a problem within the adrenals themselves (known as primary adrenal insufficiency) however chronic infections like tuberculosis and HIV might also lead to adrenal gland failure. The main symptoms are:

1. Weakness and loss of apetite, tiredness
2. Weight loss and muscle fatigue
3. Low blood pressure
4. Skin darkening (hyper-pigmentation)
5. Craving for salt

Acanthosis nigricans

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:08:51 +0000

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder where skin becomes dark, velvety and think around the body folds. The area usually affected is the back, armpits and neck. Acanthosis nigricans can affect any age group. The condition is usually associated with diabetes and obesity. People with this skin disorder often have increased insulin levels in their blood. Some genetic factors may also play a role and so can certain medications like the oral contraceptives. The usual form of treatment is to treat the underlying medical condition however the best way to control it would be to keep the insulin level within control and indulge in some form of physical exercise regularly. The associated symptoms are:

1. Changes in the skin, which becomes dark, velvety and thick. Usually skin changes are the only symptoms that appear especially around the body creases and folds
2. The changes appear slowly and can sometime appear on feet and palms as well
3. One might experience itching in the darkened skin folds/creases sometimes

Alzheimer’s

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:24:18 +0000

Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest cause of dementia, leading to gradual loss of brain functions. It’s a slowly progressive brain disorder which is characterized by loss of social skills, intellectual abilities and memory impairment. The cause of Alzheimer’s is not fully understood however it is believed to occur as a result of certain genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. The disease is often severe enough to affect daily life activities. It typically affects older adults (65 and above) though early onset of Alzheimer’s are also known. The usual symptoms associated with the Alzheimer’s are:

1. Forgetfulness, is usually the first symptom to appear
2. Disorientation with space, time and place
3. Personality changes,
4. Lack of ability to make judgement, take decision
5. Difficulty to concentrate and think

Arthritis

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:04:22 +0000

In simple words, any joint inflammation is defined as arthritis. We have various joints in our body, where bones meet to allow free movement. There are various types/form of arthritis like there is Rheumatoid arthritis which is an auto-immune disease leading to chronic joint inflammation and then there is Osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) which is a degenerative arthritis and where the joints undergo wear and tear due to aging, injury etc. So, the underlying cause for arthritis can vary however the commonly associated symptoms are:

1. Pain in the affected joint, can be accompanied with stiffness
2. Difficulty in walking or doing activities of daily life/living (ADL)
3. Tiredness
4. Fever, especially when disease is active
5. Lack of appetite & also weight loss

Asthma

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:14:09 +0000

Asthma occurs when you airways become inflamed and narrow. This inflammation can be triggered by various factors due to which there is increased mucus production and further narrowing of airways in the lung. Common symptoms associated with Asthma are:

1. Difficulty in breathing or breathlessness
2. Wheezing, which is a whistling sound that you hear as you breathe
3. Coughing
4. Feeling of tightness in the chest
5. Difficult in speaking as a result of shortness of breath