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ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, ADHD: ADD is a neurological behavioral disorder characterized by marked inattention and may be accompanied by hyperactivity-impulsivity (ADHD) that results in significant functional impairment. Some children with ADD also are diagnosed...

Addison's Disease, Adrenal Insufficiency: Also Adrenocortical hypofunction and Hypocortisolism. Your adrenal glands are just above your kidneys. The outside layer of these glands makes hormones that help your body respond to stress and regulate your...

Aging: Given the increased number of Baby Boomers in the US society, more and more of the population is concerned with Aging. Based on a survey conducted in 1999, it was...

Alcoholism, Alcohol dependence: For most adults, moderate alcohol use is not harmful. However, nearly 17.6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems. Alcoholism is a disease with four...

Allergies: An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies are usually sensitive to multiple things. Scientists think...

Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the...

Amenorrhea, Amenia: The absence or abnormal stoppage of menstruation. It can be primary or secondary. In some cases amenorrhea is a natural part of life, as in the case of menopause. In...

Anal Fissure: An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the skin that lines the anus. Fissures typically cause pain and often bleed. Fissures are quite common, but are often...

Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia: Having too little hemoglobin is called anemia. Iron is a mineral needed by our bodies to make many enzymes and used in many cell functions. Iron deficiency is the most...

Angina, Stable, Unstable, Variant: Angina is chest pain or discomfort you get when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest or...

Arrhythmia, Irregular heartbeat: An arrhythmia is any disorder of your heart rate or rhythm. It means that your heart beats too quickly, too slowly or with an irregular pattern. When the heart beats...

Arthritis, Rheumatoid: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that affects the joints, often those in a person's wrists, fingers, and feet. The common symptoms of RA are pain, stiffness, fatigue, sleep...

Asthma: Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime...

Autism: Also referred to as Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS, including atypical autism) and Asperger Syndrome. Autism is one of a group of disorders known as autism...

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Back Pain: Each year, up to one-quarter of U.S. adults experience low-back pain. Most people have significant back pain at least once in their lives; often, the cause is unknown. Back pain...

Bacterial Infections: Bacteria are living things that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods or spirals. They are so small that a line of 1,000 could fit...

Bed Sores, Pressure Sores: Bed Sores, Decubitus Ulcers, Pressure Ulcers, Pressure Sores Pressure sores are areas of damaged skin caused by staying in one position for too long. They commonly form where your bones are...

Bell's Palsy: If you have Bell's palsy, the muscles in your face become temporarily paralyzed. It usually affects just one side of the face. Symptoms appear suddenly - you can't shut your...

Bipolar Disorder, Mental Health: In bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive illness), people have periods of depressive symptoms that alternate or may co-exist with periods of mania. Symptoms of mania include abnormally high levels of...

Bird Flu: Bird Flu, Avian Influenza and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds...

Birth Defect: One of every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. A birth defect is a problem that happens while the baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth...

Breast Cancer: Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Cancers are named after the part of the body where the abnormal cell growth begins. Breast...

Bronchitis: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. Illness begins most frequently with fever, runny nose,...

Burns: A burn is damage to your body's tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation. Scalds from hot liquids and steam, building fires and flammable liquids and gases are...

Bursitis and Tendinitis: Bursitis and tendinitis are both common conditions that involve inflammation of the soft tissue around muscles and bones, most often in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle. A bursa...

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Candidiasis: Candidiasis is a fungal infection that occurs when there is overgrowth of fungus called Candida. Candida is normally found on the skin or mucous membranes. Depending on which part of...

Cataract: A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. This negatively affects your vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of...

Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. It is due to a nonprogressive brain abnormality, which...

Chickenpox, Varicella: Varicella is a disease caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus, which causes a very itchy skin rash of blister-like lesions, covering the entire body but usually more concentrated...

Chlamydia: Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman's reproductive organs. It is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted...

Cholesterol: Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hyperlipoproteinemia, HDL, LDL Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or...

Chronic Pain: Chronic pain is pain that lasts beyond the expected time for healing (it can be weeks, months, or years) and interferes with normal life. The injury has healed, but the...

Cirrhosis, Hepatic fibrosis: Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury or long-term disease. Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does - make protein, help fight infections,...

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Depression: Depression is a medical condition that affects many millions of American adults each year. Mood, thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected. The most common symptoms of depression...

Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting millions of Americans. There are 3 main types of Diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95...

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E. Coli, Escherichia coli: Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some kinds of...

Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating, Bulimia): Eating disorders are serious behavior problems. They include the following conditions: Anorexia nervosa, in which you become too thin, but you don't eat enough because you think you are fat....

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is one of the Nation's Most Common Disabling Neurological Conditions. It is a general term that includes various types of seizures. People with diagnosed epilepsy have had more than...

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Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia have chronic widespread pain, as well as 'tender points' on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and...

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Gallstones, Cholelithiasis: Gallstones are hard substances, usually from bile, that block the flow of bile from the Gallbladder through the bile duct. Bile is made by the liver to help your body...

Gambling, Compulsive or Addiction: Gambling is common among many people. It includes activities such as; playing poker or other card games, betting on horses, rolling dice, and even playing bingo. Most people do not...

GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly.Since the esophagus is like a hose that connects your mouth and your stomach,...

Gout: Gout is an ancient and common form of inflammatory arthritis, and is the most common inflammatory arthritis among men. Gout may remit for long periods, followed by flares for days...

Gynecologic Cancer: Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman's reproductive organs. Five main types of cancer affect a woman's reproductive organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a...

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Headache, Tension, Migraine, Cluster, Sinus: Simply put, a headache is pain in your head. However, a headache can be a sign of a more serious condition and should not be ignored if it is extremely...

Hearing Loss: Hearing loss, Auditory Conditions, Hearing Disorders, Deafness, Presbycusis It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but...

Heart or Cardiovascular Disease: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each...

Hepatitis, A, B, C, D, E: The word 'hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is also the name of...

Hiatal Hernia: Hiatal Hernias most often occur in people 50 years and over. If someone has a Hiatal Hernia it is very common for them to have Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) as well....

HIV, AIDS: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. The immune system gives...

Hypertension, High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a measured blood pressure above 140/90. It is sometimes called the 'silent killer' because it usually has no noticeable warning signs or symptoms until other serious...

Hypoglycemia, Low blood sugar: When the amount of glucose in your blood is low and the body is not able to release more from the muscles and liver, a condition of Hypoglycemia, Low blood...

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Impotence, Erectile Dysfunction: Impotence is also called Erectile Dysfunction (ED), it is when a man has difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. This can be caused by damage to your nerves, clogging of...

Incontinence: Incontinence, Urinary; Overactive Bladder, Bladder Control Problems, Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence Both men and women can have bladder control problems. The onset of these problems usually happens with age and can...

Insomnia: Insomnia is characterized by an inability to initiate or maintain sleep. It can also present as early morning awakening where a person awakens several hours early and is unable to...

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Jaundice: Jaundice can develop when red blood cells break down and bilirubin is not removed by the liver. It is normal for some red blood cells to die every day. Jaundice...

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Kaposi's Sarcoma, KS: This is a form of cancer that can occur in many different parts of the body. Some more common areas are the lining of the throat, nose, and mouth, beneath...

Kidney Disease, Renal Disease: The function of your kidneys is to filter your blood. The actual parts of the kidney that do the filtering are called the nephrons. When the nephrons take the waste...

Kidney Stones, Nephrolithiasis: A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine. Kidney stones come in a variety of sizes, from a tiny...

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Leukemia: Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Myeloid or Myelocytic Hematologic cancers include leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma, all of which involve the uncontrolled growth of cells that have similar functions and origins. Leukemia is a cancer of...

Lung Cancer: Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Cancers are named after the part of the body where the abnormal cell growth begins. Lung...

Lymphoma, Hodgkin's, Non-Hodgkin's: Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymph system. The two primary types of lymphoma are Hodgkin's lymphoma, which spreads in an orderly...

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Macular Degeneration: Macular Degeneration, Age-related macular degeneration, AMD Macular degeneration or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older, although it can occur in people...

Measles: Rubella Disease, German Measles Measles is an acute viral disease spread through contact with an infected person via coughing and sneezing that causes fever and rash that lasts for two or...

Meningitis, Spinal Meningitis: Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer to it as Spinal Meningitis. Meningitis usually occurs in...

Menopause, Change of Life: Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops and she can no longer become pregnant. It is a normal change in a woman's body. Menopause can...

Miscarriage: Miscarriage, Pregnancy loss, Spontaneous abortion, Stillbirth Pregnancy loss can happen in different ways. With a miscarriage, pregnancy suddenly ends before 20 weeks. It usually happens because of genetic problems in the...

Mononucleosis: Epstein-Barr virus, frequently referred to as EBV, is a member of the herpes virus family and one of the most common human viruses. The virus occurs worldwide, and most people...

Multiple Sclerosis, MS: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects...

Mumps: Mumps is an acute viral illness caused by the mumps virus. Symptoms of this disease include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of salivary...

Myasthenia Gravis: Myasthenia gravis interferes with messages your nerves send to your muscles. Normally, nerve endings release a substance that attaches to receptors on your muscles. That tells your muscles to contract....

Myeloma: Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. In myeloma, the cells overgrow, forming a mass, or tumor, that is located in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the spongy...

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Narcolepsy: Excessive daytime sleepiness (including episodes of irresistible sleepiness) combined with sudden muscle weakness are the hallmark signs of narcolepsy. The sudden muscle weakness seen in narcolepsy may be brought on...

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Obesity, Overweight: Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight...

Osteoporosis, Osteopenia: Osteoporosis or 'porous bone' is a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteopenia is the term used when the bone mass...

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Pancreatic Cancer: The pancreas is a gland behind your stomach and in front of your spine. It produces juices that help break down food and hormones that help control blood sugar levels....

Parasites: A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. There are three main classes...

Pediatric Conditions, Rheumatism: It is common to use the word 'rheumatism' or 'arthritis' to describe a large range of rheumatic diseases. There are greater than 100 rheumatic diseases, which can affect children. These...

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, PID: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a general term that refers to a bacterial infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other female reproductive organs. It is a common and serious...

Prostate Cancer, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): The prostate gland is a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate Cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of...

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Raynaud's Phenomenon, Disease and Syndrome: Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the fingers and toes. It is characterized by episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks, in which the blood vessels in...

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Restless Legs Syndrom (RLS) is characterized by an unpleasant "creeping" sensation, often feeling like it is originating in the lower legs, but often associated with aches and pains throughout the...

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Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a sideways curvature of the spine, or backbone. The bones that make up the spine are called vertebrae. Some people who...

Skin Cancer: Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer; basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas,are highly curable. However,...

Sleep Apnea: Snoring may be may be a sign of sleep apnea. Persons with sleep apnea typically make gasping or snorting noises during which their sleep is briefly interrupted. Those with sleep...

Stress: Stress is a condition that develops when the demands on an individual begin to outweigh the capabilities and resources available to that individual. In other words; what is expected of...

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Whooping Cough, Pertussis: Pertussis is also known as whooping cough because of the sound a person makes when they have the disease. It is a very contagious disease caused by a type of...