A. Definition Anemia is a condition where red blood cells are not providing adequate oxygen to body tissues.

Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are many types and causes of anemia. B. Causes Anemia is caused by many different things at it has a lot of subtypes. However, the main presenting factor is the lack of healthy circulating red blood cells to carry oxygen systemically. Here is a quick overview of the different subtypes of anemia: 1. Iron Deficiency Anemia Iron is needed for healthy production of red blood cells. Iron is a building block of healthy red blood cells. A deficiency in iron would result in immature, microsomic, and hypochromic red blood cells. Also, fewer RBCs will be produced by the marrow. This type of anemia is the most common type of anemia. 2. Folic-Acid Deficiency Anemia Folate is also known as Folic Acid. This type of anemia results from a deficiency of this B vitamin. This particular type of anemia is particularly common among pregnant women as the developing fetus uses up the mothers folate stores. In folate deficiency anemia, the red blood cells are macrosomic and are called megalocytes or megaloblasts. This is the reason why this form of anemia is called Megaloblastic Anemia 3. Thalassemia Thalassemia is a form of anemia that is inherited. In this type of anemia, the body makes an abnormal form it hemoglobin, the major protein in RBCs that carry oxygen. In alpha-thalassemia, the genes related to alpha globin are mutated or are missing. In beta thalassemia, a gene defect also affects the production of beta globin. Thalassemia major is categorized if you inherit the genetic defect from both parents. If only one parent however transmits the defect, it is termed Thalassemia minor. Both conditions result to an abnormal form of hemoglobin and leads to excessive RBC destruction leading to anemia. 4. Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia This form of anemia is due to lack of sufficient cyanocobalamin or Vitamin B12. This type of anemia results to macrosomic, hypochromic RBCs. This is often referred to as Pernicious anemia. The cause of this type of anemia could be a dietary deficiency, or a disease that impairs its proper absorption such as Celiac disease or Crohns disease. 5. Hemolytic Anemia Hemolytic Anemia is a type of anemia that results from excessive lysis or destruction of RBCs. This type of anemia has a lot of causes and it also has different subtypes. The destroying factor may be intrinsic, or extrinsic, depending on the specific cause. In this type of anemia, RBCs are rapidly destroyed, resulting to a low number of oxygencarrying RBCs leading to anemia. This type of anemia does not occur though if the bone marrow is capable of producing much more RBCs than those destroyed.

6. Aplastic Anemia In Aplastic anemia, there is a deficiency in sufficient production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. There are two types of this: idiopathic, or secondary. In idiopathic aplastic anemia, there is no clear cause as to why the bone marrow is unable to produce new, mature red blood cells. In secondary aplastic anemia, the failure results as a sequel from another disorder such as renal disease (where there is decreased erythropoietin), chemotherapy, radiation, and others. 7. Sickle-Cell Anemia This type of anemia is caused by a particular type of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemogloin S changes the shape of red blood cells especially during times of low oxygen saturation of the blood. Hemoglobin S causes cells to become shaped like sickles or crescents. These RBCs are unable to properly carry oxygen, and they often get lodged into capillaries and block them. C. Symptoms Symptoms of anemia may vary from the specific subtype, but these are some of the general signs and symptoms: Fatigue Pallor Cyanosis Low hematocrit and RBC levels on a Complete Blood Count Chest pain Dizziness and Headaches Paresthesia Skin mottling Shortness of Breath Confusion and restlessness Cold hands and feet Tachycardia D. Management Management of anemia depends on the specific deficiency or the specific subtype. Nonetheless, conventional management includes: 1. Supplementation with Iron, Folate, or Vitamin B 12 2. Use of corticosteroids in anemias where there is destruction of RBCs 3. Blood Transfusions 4. Erythropoietin supplementation 5. Rest 6. Treatment of the underlying condition that causes the anemia E. Prevention Prevention of anemia is possible. Ensuring that you eat a proper diet is one of the keys towards prevention of this disease. Supplement your diet with foods rich in iron, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C such as green leafy vegetables, dairy, eggs, organ meats,

lentils, beans, meat, and others. If there is an underlying medical condition that may cause anemia, consult your doctor as to how to manage this condition.

Autoimmune disorders Email this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinter-friendly version An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. See also: Immune response Causes Normally the immune system's white blood cells help protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances. In patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy body tissue and antigens. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. This response is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to the response in allergic conditions. In allergies, the immune system reacts to an outside substance that it normally would ignore. With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts to normal body tissues that it would normally ignore. What causes the immune system to no longer tell the difference between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. One theory is that some microorganisms (such as

bacteria or viruses) or drugs may trigger some of these changes, especially in people who have genes that make them more likely to get autoimmune disorders. An autoimmune disorder may result in:

The destruction of one or more types of body tissue Abnormal growth of an organ Changes in organ function

An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types. Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include:

Blood vessels Connective tissues Endocrine glands such as the thyroid or pancreas Joints Muscles Red blood cells Skin

A person may have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time. Examples of autoimmune (or autoimmune-related) disorders include:

Addison's disease Celiac disease - sprue (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) Dermatomyositis Graves disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis Multiple sclerosis Myasthenia gravis Pernicious anemia Reactive arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Sjogren syndrome Systemic lupus erythematosus

Type I diabetes

Symptoms Symptoms of an autoimmune disease vary based on the disease and location of the abnormal immune response. Symptoms that often occur with autoimmune diseases include:

Fatigue Fever General ill-feeling (malaise)

Exams and Tests The health care provider will do a physical exam. Signs depend on the type of disease. Tests that may be done to diagnose an autoimmune disorder may include:

Antinuclear antibody tests Autoantibody tests CBC C-reactive protein (CRP) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Treatment The goals of treatment are to:

Reduce symptoms Control the autoimmune process Maintain the body's ability to fight disease

Which treatments are used depends on the specific disease and your symptoms. Some patients may need supplements to replace a hormone or vitamin that the body is lacking. Examples include thyroid supplements, vitamins such as B12, or insulin injections. If the autoimmune disorder affects the blood, you may need blood transfusions.

People with autoimmune disorders that affect the bones, joints, or muscles may need help with movement or other functions. Medicines are often prescribed to control or reduce the immune system's response. They are often called immunosuppressive medicines. Such medicines may include corticosteroids (such as prednisone) and nonsteroid drugs such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate, sirolimus, or tacrolimus. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome depends on the disease. Most autoimmune diseases are chronic, but many can be controlled with treatment. Symptoms of autoimmune disorders can come and go. When symptoms get worse, it is called a flare-up. Possible Complications Complications depend on the disease. Side effects of medications used to suppress the immune system can be severe, such as infections that can be hard to control. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of an autoimmune disorder. Prevention There is no known prevention for most autoimmune disorders. References Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM. The innate and adaptive immune systems. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds.Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007: chap 42. Siegel RM, Lipsky PE. Autoimmunity. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris Ed, et al, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 15.

Degenerative diseases is a disease in which the function or structure of the affected tissues or organs will increasingly deteriorate over time, whether due to normal bodily wear or lifestyle choices such as exercise or eating habits.[1] Degenerative diseases are often contrasted with infectious diseases.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a.k.a., Lou Gehrig's Disease Alzheimer's disease Parkinson's Disease Friedreich's ataxia Multiple system atrophy Multiple sclerosis Muscular dystrophy Niemann Pick disease Atherosclerosis Progressive supranuclear palsy Cancer Essential tremor Tay-Sachs Disease Diabetes

Heart Disease Keratoconus Keratoglobus Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Prostatitis Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Rheumatoid Arthritis Huntington's Disease Chronic traumatic encephalopathy Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Marfan's Syndrome

Lung disease Email this page to a friendShare on facebookShare on twitterBookmark & SharePrinterfriendly version Lung disease is any problem in the lungs or that prevents the lungs from working properly. There are three main types of lung disease: 1. Airway diseases -- These diseases affect the tubes (airways) that carry oxygen and other gases into and out of the lungs. These diseases usually cause a narrowing or blockage of the airways. They include asthma, emphysema, bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis. People with airway diseases often say they feel as if they are "trying to breathe out through a straw." 2. Lung tissue diseases -- These diseases affect the structure of the lung tissue. Scarring or inflammation of the tissue makes the lungs unable to expand fully ("restrictive lung disease"). This makes it hard for the lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. People with this type of lung disorder often say they feel

as if they are "wearing a too-tight sweater or vest" that doesn't allow them to breath deeply. Pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis are examples of lung tissue disease. 3. Lung circulation diseases -- These diseases affect the blood vessels in the lungs. They are caused by clotting, scarring, or inflammation of the blood vessels. They affect the ability of the lungs to take up oxygen and to release carbon dioxide. These diseases may also affect heart function.

Many lung diseases involve a combination of these three types. The most common lung diseases include:

Asthma Atelectasis Bronchitis COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Emphysema Lung cancer Pneumonia Pulmonary edema Pneumothorax Pulmonary embolus Common cardiovascular conditions Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatic heart disease is caused by one or more attacks of rheumatic fever, which then do damage to the heart, particularly the heart valves. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in childhood, and may follow a streptococcal infection. In some cases, the infection affects the heart and may result in scarring the valves, weakening the heart muscle, or damaging the sac enclosing the heart. The valves are sometimes scarred so they do not open and close normally. Hypertensive heart disease High blood pressure of unknown origin (primary hypertension) or caused by (secondary hypertension) certain specific diseases or infections, such as tumor in the adrenal glands, damage to or disease of the kidneys or their blood vessels. High blood pressure may overburden the heart and blood vessels and cause disease.

Ischemic heart disease Heart ailments caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries and therefore a decreased blood supply to the heart. Cerebrovascular disease Disease pertaining to the blood vessels in the brain. A cerebrovascular accident or stroke is the result of an impeded blood supply to some part of the brain. Inflammatory heart disease Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), the membrane sac (pericarditis) which surround the heart, the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) or the myocardium (heart muscle). Inflammation may be caused by known toxic or infectious agents or by an unknown origin. Other Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatic heart disease Rheumatic heart disease is damage caused to the hearts valves by rheumatic fever, which is caused by streptococcal bacteria. Valvular heart disease The hearts valves keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction. But a variety of conditions can lead to valvular damage. Valves may narrow (stenosis), leak (regurgitation or insufficiency) or not close properly (prolapse). You may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer. Hypertensive heart disease Aneurysm An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can enlarge over time and may be life threatening if they rupture. They can occur because of high blood pressure or a weak spot in a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms can occur in arteries in any location in your body. The most common sites include the abdominal aorta and the arteries at the base of the brain. Atherosclerosis In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques. When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body. In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure (hypertension) High blood pressure is the excessive force of blood pumping through your blood

vessels. High blood pressure causes many types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart failure, and renal disease. Peripheral arterial disease Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels in the legs. PAD manifests as pain in the legs when walking, which is relieved by rest. If you have PAD you are at greater risk of developing gangrene in your legs.

Ischemic heart disease Angina Angina manifests as pain in the chest that results from reduced blood supply to the heart (ischemia). Blood carries oxygen around your body and depriving the heart of oxygen has serious consequences. Angina is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that supply the heart. The typical pain of angina is in the chest but it can often radiate to the left arm, shoulder or jaw. If you have angina you will have noticed that the pain is related to exertion and is relieved by rest. An angina attack is also associated with shortness of breath and sweating. If you are a woman you may experience angina slightly differently. Women appear to have more pain in their shoulder and middle back area, and more throat, neck, and jaw pain than men. If your angina symptoms rapidly worsen and occur at rest this may presage an impending heart attack (myocardial infarction) and you should seek medical help immediately. Atherosclerosis In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques. When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body. In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke. Coronary artery disease Coronary artery disease is also known as ischemic heart disease. It is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that supply the heart. It is one of the most common forms of heart disease and the leading cause of heart attacks and angina. Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease refers to the disease of the arteries to the heart and their resulting complications, such as angina, heart attacks and heart failure. Heart attack A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the hearts supply of blood is stopped. A heart attack need not be fatal, especially if you receive medical attention and treatment to deal with the blockage soon after you have your heart attack. But you are likely to be left with a damaged heart post heart attack. A heart attack manifests as severe central chest pain, which may also radiate to the left arm, shoulder or jaw. Severe shortness of breath, sweating and feeling faint are common additional symptoms. If you are a woman, however, your experience of heart attack may differ. Rather than acute chest pain you may have difficulty breathing, be very, very tired and have pain in your shoulder, jaw, or upper back pain. Sudden death Sudden death occurs when there is an abrupt loss of the heart's ability to pump blood. This may be because of heart attack or serious abnormality of the hearts rhythm. Cerebrovascular heart disease Atherosclerosis In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques. When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body. In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke. Cerebral vascular disease Cerebral vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that flow to the brain. If the flow of blood is cut off this can lead to strokes and transient ischemic attacks. Stroke A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This can happen either when a blood vessel in the brain or neck is blocked or bursts. If this happens, your brain is deprived of oxygen and parts of your brain may be permanently damaged. The consequences of a stroke can include problems with speech or vision, weakness or paralysis. Transient ischemic attacks Just as stroke occurs when the flow of blood is blocked, TIAs happen when there

is a brief blockage. The temporary loss of blood to the brain causes a brief, sudden change in brain function. This may manifest as temporary numbness or weakness on one side of the body, loss of balance, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, double vision, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache. But these will disappear quickly and permanent damage is unlikely. If you have ever experienced symptoms like this you should seek medical advice. A TIA can be a warning that you are at risk of stroke sometime in the future. Inflammatory heart disease Atherosclerosis In atherosclerosis the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff because of the build up of fatty deposits. The fatty deposits are called plaques. When this happens, the flow of blood is restricted. Atherosclerosis can happen throughout the body. In the arteries of the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, in the legs, peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis happens over a period of time and its consequences can be grave and include heart attack and stroke. Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. Some types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, while others occur because of infection or other reasons that are less well understood. One of the most common types of cardiomyopathy is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart is enlarged. Other types include ischemic, loss of heart muscle; dilated, heart enlarged; hypertrophic, heart muscle is thickened. Pericardial disease The sac that encases the heart is called the pericardium and it can be affected by a variety of conditions such as inflammation (pericarditis), fluid accumulation (pericardial effusion) and stiffness (constrictive pericarditis). The etiology of these conditions varies. Valvular heart disease The hearts valves keep blood flowing through the heart in the right direction. But a variety of conditions can lead to valvular damage. Valves may narrow (stenosis), leak (regurgitation or insufficiency) or not close properly (prolapse). You may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer. Other Congenital heart disease Congenital heart disease is when you are born with malformations of the hearts structures. This may be the result of the genes you inherited from your parents or adverse exposure to certain elements while still in the womb, such as some medicines or too much alcohol. Congenital heart disease is a broad term and

examples are holes in the heart, abnormal valves, and abnormal heart chambers. Heart failure Heart failure is a chronic condition that happens when the hearts muscle becomes too damaged to adequately pump the blood around your body. If you have heart failure your heart still works but because it is less effective your organs do not get enough blood and oxygen. Heart failure tends to affect older people more often and manifests as shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance and swelling of the ankles. It results if the heart is damaged and weakened

Kidney disease

Alport Syndrome Diabetic Nephropathy Fabry Disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Glomerulonephritis IgA Nephropathy (Bergers Disease) Kidney Stones Minimal Change Disease Nephrotic Syndrome Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD