Hypertension

The term hypertension refers to high blood pressure. This means that we’re in the presence of high pressure in the arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to all tissues and organs of the body. While normal BP (blood pressure) is below 120/80, the readings in between 120/80 and 139/89 is called pre-hypertension, as high blood pressure is considered as such when we are in the presence of readings that are 140/90 and above. This condition is considered and treated as hypertension. There are numerous factors that can affect your blood pressure, such as the amount of water and salt in your body, your hormone levels, the size and condition of your kidneys and nervous system.

Cholesterol

Commonly known as high blood cholesterol, cholesterol is a major health problem that affects many countries’ populations. High levels of cholesterol can be determined by both the genetic factor and the amount of cholesterol present in your diet, and can lead to the development of the disease.

Cholesterol has been identified as one of the four major risks for coronary heart disease, as it’s related to the heart. For this reason, monitoring the cholesterol levels in blood every five years over the age of 20 is of high importance.

Diabetes

Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus, DM) is a chronic health disorder that affects 8.9% of the US population. This condition has the characteristic of the body not being able to produce enough or doesn’t respond to the insulin produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that converts glucose into energy. With diabetes, the glucose gets accumulated in the blood, which leads to several complications, from heart disease and stroke, to kidney failure and blindness.

Even though there are many types of diabetes that are identified, the principal types are Type 1 and Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. While Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, Type 2 is a result of cells failing to accept the insulin that is produced within the body. Conversely, Gestational diabetes occurs specifically in pregnant women who present high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

Ulcers

An ulcer is a non-healing wound developed on the skin, mucous membranes or eyes. Ulcers can be the result of many causes, from lengthy healing time, loss of integrity of the area, or secondary infection by bacteria/fungus/virus.

The stomach is a bag of muscles that crushes and mixes food with the digestive juices, acid and pepsin. A peptic ulcer is a condition that forms in the lining of the stomach, which is at the beginning of the small intestine, so the damage in the lining of the stomach produces that the digestive juices act as they would on food. At the same time too much acid can result in ulcers by damaging the stomach lining.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in one or more joints and/or muscles of the body. There are different types of arthritis identified, osteoarthritis being the most common one. This condition occurs as a result of pain or infection in the joints or age. Although there isn’t a cure for arthritis, there are many techniques today that are available to manage the symptoms of this condition. Physiotherapy, medication and exercise are the best therapies to manage arthritis.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as gastric reflux disease or acid reflux disease, is a digestive disorder that affects the muscle that connects the esophagus with the stomach. This causes the stomach’s contents to back up into the esophagus, producing heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the throat or chest. When the lower esophageal sphincter is very weak or when it inappropriately relaxes, we can potentially be in the presence of a backwash of the stomach contents into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition that affects up to ten percent of adults, who complain of daily symptoms. Therefore, it is an extremely common condition.

General Gastrointestinal Diseases

General gastrointestinal diseases, which are also referred to as digestive diseases, include all conditions that are relevant to the gastrointestinal tract or the digestive system. These diseases encompass those that are related to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, large intestine, colon, rectum and the digestive glands, including liver, pancreas and gallbladder. General gastrointestinal diseases include Crohn’s Disease, heartburn, acid reflux disease and ulcers.

Heart Disease

Heart disease includes the range of illnesses and conditions which affect the efficiency and functioning of the heart.

The heart is the organ in the chest that pumps blood with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body tissues and organs. Heart disease results in the disruption of the pumping action of the heart, which causes the vital organs, such as the brain and the heart, to suffer. When undergoing an operation, the whole body depends on the state of the heart, as a seizure of the organ results in death within minutes.

Heart Failure

Heart failure, also known as Congestive Heart Failure, refers to a structural or functional disease of the heart, and not to the fact that the organ has failed to function. This condition prevents the ability of the heart from supplying sufficient blood to the body so as to meet its needs. Although heart disease is a condition that develops slowly, it is a chronic and long term condition that gradually results in heart failure. The most common causes of heart failure are ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and hypertension.