DISEASES

Cardiovascular system:

Sickle cell disease

  • Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder marked by defective hemoglobin.​

  • It inhibits the ability of hemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen.​

  • Sickle cells tend to stick together, blocking small blood vessels causing painful and damaging complications.​

  • Sickle cell disease is treated with pain medications as needed, drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day, blood transfusions, and medications.

Heart Murmurs

  • Heart murmurs are sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by rapid, choppy (turbulent) blood flow through the heart.​

  •  The sounds can be heard with a device called a stethoscope. A typical heartbeat makes two sounds like "lubb-dupp" (sometimes described as "lub-DUP") when the heart valves are closing.​

  • Can be caused by tricuspid valve regurgitation​

  • This means a faulty tricuspid valve causes blood to leak backwards from the right ventricle to the right aorta

Strokes

  • Clots form in the brain and interrupt blood flow, clogging arteries and causing blood vessels to break, leading to bleeding. Rupture of the arteries leading to the brain during stroke results in the sudden death of brain cells owing to a lack of oxygen. Stroke can also lead to depression and dementia.​

HEART ATTACK​

  • A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, happens when the flow of blood that brings oxygen to a part of your heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked. Your heart can't get enough oxygen. If blood flow is not restored quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die.​

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE​

  • High blood pressure is a common condition that affects the body's arteries. It's also called hypertension. If you have high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. The heart has to work harder to pump blood.​

  • Untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. It's important to have your blood pressure checked at least every two years starting at age 18. Some people need more-frequent checks.​

  • Healthy lifestyle habits —such as not smoking, exercising and eating well — can help prevent and treat high blood pressure. Some people need medicine to treat high blood pressure.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM​

LACTOSE ​ INTOLERANCE​

  • Lactose intolerance happens when your small intestine does not make enough of a digestive enzyme called lactase. Lactase breaks down the lactose in food so your body can absorb it. People who are lactose intolerant have unpleasant symptoms after eating or drinking milk or milk products. These symptoms include bloating, diarrhea and gas.​

CEOLIAC ​

  • Celiac disease is an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye.​

  • If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response to the gluten protein in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing nutrients, a condition called malabsorption.​

  • The intestinal damage often causes symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating or anemia. It also can lead to serious complications if it is not managed or treated. In children, malabsorption can affect growth and development in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms.