Different Types of Diseases

There are many different types of diseases. Some are caused by

diet and nutrition. Some are spontaneous and the cause is
unknown. Others are contagious and spread from person to
person. Some people are born with their diseases. We have put
together a list of all the different types of diseases. Some doctors
may group these different types of diseases differently or may
put some disease categories together with others.
• Cancer - There are many different types of cancer. So
far in 2009, the new cases of cancer is almost 1,500,000.
There have been more than 500,000 deaths caused by
cancer this year so far. Some types of cancer include
pharynx, lung and bronchus, skin, breast, endometrium,
ovary, prostate, kidney and renal pelvis, brain and other
nervous system, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia,
pancreas, colon, small intestine among many other sites of
the body.
• Autoimmune
conditions - There have been more than 8 million
people in the United states diagnosed with autoimmune
diseases since 1996. Autoimmune conditions are when the
immune system begins attacking its own body. These
diseases include multiple sclerosis, lupus, psoriasis,
rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and vasculitis.
• Diabetes - An estimated 23 million Americans have
diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not
properly produce enough insulin naturally. These people
may have to test their blood sugar regularly and give
themselves insulin injections as a treatment. They also will
have to maintain a strick dietary lifestyle where they will
need to portion out their foods and stay away from many
items that have too many sugars, even if they are natural
sugars. If diabetes is untreated or not handled properly it
 can result in ulcers, sores, diabetic coma, blindness,
amputation of limbs, poor circulation, weakening of heart
and in some cases even death.
• Genetic conditions - Genetic conditions are
something people are born with. About one percent of
babies are born with an abnormal chromosome. These
conditions may include Down syndrome, spina bifida, and
sickle cell anemia, and even a genetic predisposition to
certain diseases such as cancer. So far, there are more than
6,000 genetic conditions.
• Chromosome conditions - Very similar to genetic
condition is chromosome conditions. Some chromosome
conditions may include Down syndrome, Edwards
syndrome, Patau syndrome, Trisomy 22, sex chromosome
conditions, Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome,
and Velocariofacial syndrome.
• Bacterial infections - Some bacteria are good and
help us to digest food, while others can make us sick. They
will give off toxins and cause us to get sick. Some
examples of bacteria are strep throat, staph infection, and E.
coli. Antibiotics are typically prescribed against bacterial
infections, and you must finish the entire dosage or your
body will become immune to the medicine.
• Viral infections - Viruses are much smaller than
bacteria and cause diseases such as the cold, flu and warts.
There are also much more severe viruses known as AIDS,
smallpox, and hemorrhagic fevers. There are very few
antiviral medicines and antibiotics do not work against
viruses. The best defense against viral infections are
 vaccinations.

• Parasitic Infections - People who travel a lot are

usually at risk of picking up parasitic infections. Sometimes
the water or food supply can become contaminated by
parasites. Parasites will usually get into the host's body
through the mouth or through an open wound. You can also
get parasites from insect bites, breathing dust, or walking
barefoot. It is diagnosed by sample of blood, urine, stool, or
phlegm. There are a couple of different types of parasites in
people. These may include pinworms, hookworms,
roundworms, tapeworms, liver fluke, giardia lamblia,
entamoeba histolytica, cryptosporidium, and toxoplasma
gondii.
• Worm conditions - Worm conditions may seem to
overlap some with parasitic infections. After all, worms are
a form of parasite. Some worms include pinworm,
 roundworm, hookworm, elephantiasis, tapeworm,
whipworm, alveolar hydatid disease, ascariasis,
cysticercosis, dracunculiasis, lymphatic filariasis,
neurocysticercosis, strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis,
trichinosis, and baylisascaris.
• Physical conditions - Physical condition can be a
range of conditions. This can include broken bones, trauma,
orthopedic disorders, injury, falls, firearm injury, open
wound paralysis, sports injury, burns, whiplash, tennis
elbow and repetitive strain injury.
• Accidents - Accidents can be very similar to physical
conditions, but it is more specific. Accidents can happen in
a car and cause an injury. They can also happen on a bike.
People can get seriously hurt, and vehicular accidents
usually cause neck or spinal injuries. These can be long
lasting or last only a few weeks.
• Prion diseases - Prion diseases are very rare and they
affect the brain and nervous system in people and animals.
It prevents the brain from functioning properly, impairing
the memory, and it causes change in the personality. It is
also known to cause dementia and difficulty with moving
around. It is though to be inherited and comes in the form
of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Straussler-
 Schneinker syndrome, and fatal insomnia.

• Nutritional deficiencies - To function properly, we

get to get the proper amount of food. This includes the right
amount of vitamins, minerals, calories, and fat among other
things. Most people will use the Food Guide Pyramid to
help them to choose their foods and servings. this can be a
good guideline to follow for proper nutrition. It also helps
you to keep in mind that too much of one food can also be
just as unhealthy as too little. In cases where you are not
eating properly or enough of all five food groups you will
find that people can become weakened, loss of hair, tooth
enamel, weakened organs and in some cases even death.
• Vitamin deficiencies - Most diets lack enough
Vitamin C, D, and K. Many people do not take vitamin
deficiencies seriously thinking how bad could it be if you
lack some vitamins. Well the fact of the matter is that it can
be a serious ordeal to go through if you find that you are
lacking in essential vitamins. For instance for those people
lacking in vitamins A,C,E and beta carotene they have been
linked to be more likely to have heart disease. Vitamin C
has been shown to help lower your risk for heart disease,
poor health and even prolonging life. Vitamins E and C
have both been linked to helping to reduce your risks for
developing Alzheimer's disease. So overall vitamins are
essential and quite beneficial. If you find that you are at
risk for having a vitamin deficiency then you need to get to
your doctor quickly and device a plan.
• Mineral deficiencies - Most diets lack enough
calcium, chromium, copper, essential fatty acids, folic acid,
magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Mineral deficiencies can
also be a serious matter. Minerals have been shown to help
with these essential functioning of ones organs and
biological systems. With a lack of minerals your body
 could perhaps fall apart at the seems and not know how to

run itself.
• Mitochondrial diseases - There are about 40
different mitochondrial diseases and they can effect any
organ in the body, which is why they are difficult to
diagnose. Whatever organ the mitochondrial disease is in, it
will work improperly. If it is in the brain, the patient may
have mental retardation, or dementia.
• Wrist conditions - Wrist disorders can be caused by
an injury or from repetitious movement of the hand. These
conditions include arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome,
galglions of the wrist, intersection syndrome, wrist
replacement, wrist fusion, scaphoid fracture of the wrist,
repetitive strain injury, ligament injuries of the wrist and
Kienbock's disease.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases - STDs are very
common and about 65 million people currently live with
incurable diseases. STDs include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis,
chlamydia, herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, and
gonorrhea. These can be more minor to quite severe, with
 some resulting in death, infirtility, blindness, respitory
problems and even passing these sexually transmitted
diseases onto your children during birth or in some cases
causing them to go blind.
Pregnancy Conditions

• Birth defects - About three to four percent of babies

are born with birth defects and there are currently about
4,000 birth defects known. Birth defects are defined as the
abnormal development of structures and functions while in
the womb. This may lead to mental or physical handicaps
later in life. The baby may even die as a result of these birth
defects.
• Infant conditions - Some conditions that can affect
infants include Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, failure to
thrive, colic, ear infection, diaper rash, gastroesophageal
reflux, teething, eczema, constipation, nasal congestion,
and thrush. These are all fairly normal infant conditions.
• Breastfeeding Conditions - Breastfeeding
conditions can become frustrating to a new mother. She
feels responsible for feeding her newborn. A common
condition breastfeeding mothers experience is a mastitis
and it can be very painful when you are trying to
breastfeed. This can be caused by infection, engorgement
or by a blocked duct. An infection is usually caused by a
bacteria and will usually clear up on its own. If it does not,
it will need to be treated with antibiotics. Some symptoms
can include the breast becoming swollen, hot, red and
shiny. The mother may also develop a fever, muscle aches,
nausea and vomiting.
• Dental conditions - Dental conditions are what the
dentist looks for when we have an appointment. These
conditions may include bad breath, cavities, gum disease,
mouth sores, oral cancer, tooth erosion, sensitivity,
toothaches, and dry mouth.
• Lung conditions - More than 30 million people in the
United States have chronic lung disease. This can be caused
by being born prematurely and the lungs have not had a
chance to fully develop. It can also be caused by fluid in
the lungs, infections, injury, and malnourishment. Other
lung conditions include asthma, respiratory infections, lung
cancer, and COPD.
• Liver conditions - Some of the most common liver
diseases include hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, obstruction,
liver cancer, hemochromatosis, and Wilson's disease.
• Digestive conditions - About 70 million people have
digestive diseases in the United States. Some of these
conditions include abdominal wall hernia, constipation,
diverticular disease, gallstones, gastritis and nonulcer
dyspepsia, and hemorrhoids. These conditions can cause
cancer, which was responsible for more than 200,000
deaths in 2002.
• Prostate conditions - This is the most common type
of cancer in men in the United States besides skin cancer. It
is estimated that this year, there will be almost 200,000 new
cases of prostate cancer diagnosed, and more than 27,000
men will die of prostate cancer this same year. Some other
conditions men can have with the prostate include
prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Thyroid disorders - About 20 million people in the
United States suffer from thyroid disorders. Thyroids
produce hormones, therefore thyroid disorders include
those that produce too little or too much hormones.
Symptoms of thyroid disorders may include depression,
fatigue, and forgetfulness. Some thyroid disorders include
hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
 Graves disease, thyroid cancer, and goiter.

• Hearing disorders - More than 22 million people in

the United States have been diagnosed with hearing
disorders. Hearing disorders can include hearing difficulty
and hearing loss or deafness. This can be caused by
heredity, diseases, trauma, medication, age, and exposure to
loud noises over a long period of time. Not being able to
hear other people's conversation can be frustrating and you
can feel like you are missing out on the conversation and
the fun that other people are having. There are hearing aid
that are available to enhance the sound, and some people
also have the option of being taught sign language to still
be able to communicate with other people.
• Male conditions - These diseases have to do with the
male anatomy and can include conditions of the penis,
urethra, or testes. Male conditions include circumcision,
hydrocele, hypospadias, inguinal hernia, micropenis,
 testicular torsion, phimosis and paraphimosis, undescended
testes, and posterior urethral valves.
• Blood conditions - There are many different blood
diseases. Some people are born with while others are
caused by the diet. These blood conditions include anemia,
hemophilia, leukemia, hemochromatosis, bacteremia,
autoimmune hemophilia, balance disorders, bleeding
disorders, circulatory disorders, favism, high cholesterol,
hypercalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, jaundice,
multiple myeloma, pernicious anemia, sickle celle anemia,
thrombosis, acidosis, and hypertension. Blood conditions
are know for being hard to catch, treat and control so if you
feel like you are at risk for having a blood condition then
you will need to go to your doctor immediatly and talk to
him about what your concerns are so blood tests can be
taken and the situation can be figured out.
• Nerve conditions - The two main types of nerve
conditions are neuritis and Bell's palsy. Bell's palsy is when
part or the entire face becomes paralyzed, therefore speech
becomes impaired. Inactivity, diet and stress can all lead to
developing nerve conditions, as well as smoking, alcohol
and drugs. Some other nerve conditions include trigeminal
neuralgia, restless legs syndrome, post-polio syndrome,
phantom limb syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, paralysis,
paraplegia, and diabetic