Food Poisoning What is food poisoning? Food-borne illness, more commonly referred to as food poisoning, is the result of eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. What are the myths about food poisoning? A hot meal can still give food poisoning when served in…
Epilepsy What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is a sudden rush of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. Doctors diagnose epilepsy when you have two or more seizures more than 24 hours apart with no other identifiable cause. Epilepsy affects 50 million people around the world,…
Ebola What is Ebola? Ebola is a serious and deadly virus transmitted by animals and humans. It was initially detected in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Researchers named the disease after the Ebola River. Until recently, Ebola appeared in Africa only. Although the Ebola virus has been present for more than…
Eating Disorders What causes eating disorders? The exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. However, many doctors believe that a combination of genetic, physical, social, and psychological factors may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Societal pressure can also contribute to eating disorders. Success and personal worth are often equated with physical beauty…
Type 1 Diabetes What is type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease. In people with type 1 diabetes, cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, so the body is unable to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body’s cells use glucose (sugar) for energy. Your body gets…
Type 2 Diabetes What is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which the levels of sugar, or glucose, build up in your bloodstream. Typically, the hormone insulin helps move glucose from your blood to your cells, where it’s used for energy. But with type 2 diabetes, your body’s cells…
Dengue What is dengue fever? Dengue fever (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is a disease caused by four dengue viruses spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This is different from the mosquito which causes malaria. Once you contract one of the dengue viruses, you develop immunity to that virus…
Deafness What is deafness or hearing loss? Deafness or hearing loss is when you’re unable to partially or completely hear sound in one or both of your ears. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over time. How does hearing happen? The three main parts of the ear are the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear….
Constipation What is constipation? Constipation means having hard, dry bowel movements or passing stool fewer than three times a week. It can be caused by things like your diet, medications, whether you are pregnant, or just a change in your routine. What are the symptoms of Constipation? Each person’s bowel habits are different. Some people…
Cholera What is cholera? Cholera is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. People typically acquire cholera from contaminated water. Most people with cholera have few or no symptoms, but some will experience severe diarrhea and dehydration. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are between 1.3 and 4 million cases of…