Health Information and Conditions

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Many times Diabetics have to deal with other medical conditions. Below are common conditions that may effect diabetics.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways. Asthma is made up of two components- inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Inflammation is swelling of the air passages and bronchoconstriction is tightening of the airways. Both components of asthma make it difficult to breathe. Since asthma is chronic it means that the disease will never go away even if you do not feel the symptoms.


IBS

IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS affects as much as 10-20% of the population of the United States of America. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also known as spastic colon, mucous colitis, spastic colitis, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.


Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux is the common term used to indicate the presence of gastro esophageal reflux disease. Gastro esophageal reflux disease is also commonly referred to as GERD. Acid reflux is the term used to describe the condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. The liquid from the stomach contains acid and this acid causes the esophagus to become irritated and inflamed.


Migraines

So you have been diagnosed with migraine headaches. What does that mean and how does a migraine headache differ from a regular, plain headache? There are various characteristics that define a migraine headache.


Depression

If you are feeling depressed, does it mean you have depression? Everyone feels depressed at some point in his or her life. There is a major difference between feeling depressed and having depression. Depression is usually not considered a state of mind. Depression is linked to physical changes in the brain. Depression is connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that carry signals in your brain and nerves.


Hypertension

Hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood flow inside your blood vessels. When your doctor checks your blood pressure, he records two numbers, such as 120/80 mmHg. The first number is the pressure as your heart beats and pushes blood through the blood vessels. Health care providers call this the "systolic" pressure. The second number is the pressure when the vessels relax between heartbeats. It's called the "diastolic" pressure.


Kidney Disease

Kidney disease symptoms are important to understand if you are a type 1 diabetic or type 2 diabetic. As a diabetic, your kidneys undergo a lot more stress than a non-diabetic person. However, not everyone who is diabetic has the same degree of risk for developing kidney disease. Kidney disease is one of several long-term diabetes complications that you need to be aware of. Kidney disease that is caused by diabetes is referred to as nephropathy.


Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. It is caused by a narrowing or blocking of the blood vessels that goes to your heart. Your blood carries oxygen and other needed materials to your heart. When blood vessels to your heart become either partially or totally blocked by fatty deposits, a heart attack can occur.


Migraine Headaches

Approximately 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Most people who suffer from migraine have a family history of migraine.