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General Illness Information Medical Term: INFLUENZA Common Name: (FLU) Description: A specific acute contagious, viral illness causing fever, runny nose, cough, headaches, generalized aches and pains, malaise and upper respiratory infection. Incubation period is 24-48 hours. Main types: A, B, & C, but can mutate to different forms. Can affect most ages, especially infants. Causes: Infection by myxovirus class of viruses; The viruses spread by personal contact or indirect contact. Prevention:…

General Illness Information Medical Term: IRITIS Common Name: None Specified Description: Inflammation of the iris and the ciliary muscle ( the ring of colored tissue surrounding the pupil of the eye). This is also referred to as Anterior uveitis Causes: Infection that spreads to the eye from other body parts. Common causes include: Toxoplasmosis; Tuberculosis; Histoplasmosis; Syphilis; Sarcoidosis; Viruses (herpes simplex or zoster); Injury to the eye; Autoimmune reaction; Unknown…

General Illness Information Common Name: High Blood Pressure Medical Term: Hypertension. Description: Hypertension is defined as a sustained elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater). 50 million  people in the US have hypertension; 20% of the U.S. population. It is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Even though most patients have no symptoms, treatment…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hyperthyroidism Medical Term: Hyperthyroidism Description: Excessive levels of thyroid hormone  – usually due to over-activity of the thyroid gland.  This hormone regulates all body functions, and therefore over-production of thyroid hormone will have widespread effect in the body. Types of hyperthyroidism include: Graves’ disease (GD) – the most common form – an autoimmune disease; Toxic multinodular goiter – occurs late in life. Nodules are insidious…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hypothyroidism Medical Term: Hypothyroidism Description: The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, under the control of the pituitary gland in the brain. Thyroid hormone is essential to the body in the consumption of oxygen by the cells, and in protein synthesis. The condition in which the thyroid gland produces low levels of thyroid hormone is termed hypothyroidism. It affects both sexes, but is more common among…

General Illness Information Medical Term: IMPOTENCE, MALE SEXUAL (ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION) Common Name: None Specified Description: A consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection; Impotence is not inevitable with aging. The capacity for erection is retained, though a man may need more stimulation to achieve erection and more time between erections than in the past. Causes: Psychological causes include: Guilt feelings; A poor relationship with the sexual partner; Psychological disorders,…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hyperlipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia Medical Term: Hyperlipidemia Description: Abnormally high levels of fat in the blood. Serum cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L).  High risk: Serum cholesterol higher than 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L) High density lipoprotein fraction of cholesterol (HDL) is protective [“Good Cholesterol”] Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is atherogenic [“bad cholesterol”] This is a serious and “silent” problem in North America. 120 million people with…

General Illness Information Common Name: Morning Sickness (Severe) Medical Term: Hyperemesis gravidarum Description: Persistent severe nausea and vomiting in a pregnancy; This may lead to dehydration and drastic changes in body chemistry; This is different from, and much more serious than, morning sickness during pregnancy. Causes: Unknown. May be psychological factors; Hyperthyroidism; Hyperparathyroidism; Gestational hormones; Liver dysfunction; Autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Prevention: Don’t use any drugs, including non-prescription drugs or…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hyperhidrosis Medical Term: Hyperhidrosis Description: Excessive perspiration due to over activity of the sweat glands. May be general or confined to the palms, soles, armpits, below the breasts or groin. Often causes social embarrassment. Causes: Genetic factors; Anxiety; Fever and infection; Malignancy; Hyperthyroidism; Menopause; Some drugs and medicines, such as narcotics; Withdrawal from addictive drugs; Unknown in some cases. Prevention: Control anxiety; Keep cool. Signs…

General Illness Information Common Name: Hyperlipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia Medical Term: Hyperlipidemia Description: Abnormally high levels of fat in the blood. Serum cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L).  High risk: Serum cholesterol higher than 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L). High density lipoprotein fraction of cholesterol (HDL) is protective [“Good Cholesterol”]. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is atherogenic [“bad cholesterol”]. This is a serious and “silent” problem in North America. 120 million people with…