Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease is the gradual loss of brain cells. It is sort of like Dementia-another stage of Alzheimer's that can be described as 'a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities'. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. There are over 4 million Americans that have Alzheimer's Disease. Most people are 60 and older that have Alzheimer's. (60 years old is the youngest age to have it) The risk of Alzheimer's goes up with age. It was considered rare in the early 1900's. It was founded by a German doctor named Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906. Alzheimer's is NOT a normal part of aging. Most people in nursing homes suffer from Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is a slow disease, starting with mild memory problems and ending with severe brain damage. The course the disease takes and how fast changes occur vary from person to person. On average, AD patients live from 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for as many as 20 years. The term "dementia" describes a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function. Dementia symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time, people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. People with dementia lose their abilities at different rates. Dementia is caused by many conditions. Some conditions that cause dementia can be reversed, and others cannot. The two most common forms of dementia in older people are Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia (sometimes called vascular dementia). These types of dementia are irreversible, which means they cannot be cured. Reversible conditions with symptoms of dementia can be caused by a high fever, dehydration, vitamin deficiency and poor nutrition, bad reactions to medicines, problems with the thyroid gland, or a minor head injury. Medical conditions like these can be serious and should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. In multi-infarct dementia, a series of small strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply may result in the death of brain tissue. The location in the brain where the small strokes occur determines the seriousness of the problem and the symptoms that arise. Symptoms that begin suddenly may be a sign of this kind of dementia. People with multi-infarct dementia are likely to show signs of improvement or remain stable for long periods of time, then quickly develop new symptoms if more strokes occur. In many people with multi-infarct dementia, high blood pressure is to blame. One of the most important reasons for controlling high blood pressure is to prevent strokes. The seven warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease are: 1.) Asking the same question over and over again., 2.) Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again., 3.) Forgetting how to cook, or how to make repairs, or how to play cards — activities that were previously done with ease and regularity., 4.) Losing one’s ability to pay bills or balance one’s checkbook., 5.) Getting lost in familiar surroundings, or misplacing household objects., 6.) Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again, while insisting that they have taken a bath or that their clothes are still clean., and 7.) Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves. There is no cure for Alzheimer's at this time.

Cancer
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs as the cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body. When cells from a cancer like breast cancer spread to another organ like the liver, the cancer is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all its activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times though, a person’s DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking. Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. Remember that not all tumors are cancerous. Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years. It is important to know what some of the general (nonspecific) signs and symptoms of cancer are. They include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain, changes in the skin. In addition to the above general symptoms, the American Cancer Society has established the following seven common symptoms that could lead to a diagnosis of cancer: 1.) A change in bowel habits or bladder function. Chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of the stool may indicate colon cancer. Pain with urination, blood in the urine, or change in bladder function could be related to bladder or prostate cancer. Any changes in bladder or bowel function should be reported to your doctor., 2.) Sores that do not heal. Skin cancers may bleed and resemble sores that do not heal. A persistent sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer and should be dealt with promptly, especially for patients who smoke, chew tobacco, or frequently drink alcohol. Sores on the penis or vagina should not be overlooked., 3.) Unusual bleeding or discharge. Unusual bleeding can occur in early or advanced cancer. Blood in the sputum is a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. Cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer) or cervix can cause vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine is a sign of possible bladder or kidney cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer., 4.) Thickening or lump in breast or other parts of the body. Many cancers can be felt through the skin, particularly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft tissues of the body. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer. Any lump or thickening should be reported to your doctor. You may be feeling a lump that is an early cancer that could be treated successfully., 5.) Indigestion or difficulty swallowing. These symptoms may indicate cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or pharynx (throat)., 6.) Recent change in a wart or mole. A change in color, loss of definite borders, or an increase in size should be reported to your doctor without delay. The skin lesion may be a melanoma which, if diagnosed early, can be treated successfully., and 7.) A nagging cough or hoarseness. A persistent cough that does not go away is a sign of lung cancer. Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid. These are often late signs of cancer. Cancer is treatable sometimes. By methods of: chemotherapy, radiation, etc.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. Approximately 17 million people in the United States, or 6.2% of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 11.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 5.9 million people (or one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. There are three major types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes - Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes - Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Approximately 90-95% (16 million) have type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes - Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that at least 16 million Americans have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 17 million with diabetes. Gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year. Diabetes can be inherited. Some diabetes symptoms of include: Frequent urination, Excessive thirst, Extreme hunger, Unusual weight loss, Increased fatigue, Irritability, or Blurry vision. Diabetes can be cured by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, for example, eating healthy and exercising regularly can help prevent Diabetes.