In depersonalization-derealization disorder, you feel detached from yourself (depersonalization) and disconnected from your environment (derealization). While feelings like this may come and go for many people, in people with depersonalization-derealization disorder, they tend to last a long time (persist) or go away and come back (recur). Depersonalization affects your ability to recognize your thoughts, feelings and body as your own. …
Crohn’s disease is a chronic (lifelong) autoimmune condition that inflames and irritates your digestive tract, most commonly your small and large intestines (colon). Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease may cause unpleasant symptoms, most commonly diarrhea and stomach cramps or abdominal pain. What are the types of Crohn’s disease? Crohn’s disease can affect any …
Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rate higher than 120 beats per minute that starts in your heart’s two lower chambers (ventricles), rather than from the normal electrical pathway. A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. During an episode of ventricular tachycardia, your heart is beating so fast that: Your blood pressure drops. Your heart can’t pump enough oxygen to …
A ventricular septal defect is a condition where you’re born with a hole in the wall between the two lower chambers of your heart. Often shortened to VSD, this condition is the most common congenital (meaning you have it when you’re born) heart defect and often happens alongside other types of heart problems or defects. A small VSD is usually …
Ventricular fibrillation (v-fib or VF, for short) is the most common deadly arrhythmia. With this irregular heart rhythm, your heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) beat in an erratic way. They quiver or twitch instead of expanding and squeezing. This means they can’t pump blood as they should. When blood stops flowing for this reason, you typically have just a few seconds before you pass out. This …
Heart valve disease refers to any of several conditions that prevent one or more of the valves in your heart from working right. Left untreated, heart valve disease may reduce blood flow and cause your heart to work harder. Untreated heart valve disease can become life-threatening. But there’s hope. In many cases, your healthcare provider can do surgery or a minimally invasive procedure to repair or …
X-linked hypophosphatemia (pronounced “high-po-faas-fuh-TEE-mee-uh”), or XLH, is a genetic disease that causes issues with your bones and teeth. It’s a form of rickets. Children with XLH often have difficulty walking and can have bowed legs. It can also cause muscle weakness, hearing loss and other issues.
An eye care specialist will diagnose astigmatism with an eye exam. They’ll look at your eyes (including inside them). Your eye care specialist might use a few tests to diagnose astigmatism, including: Visual acuity test: A visual acuity test is a test that checks your vision. You’ve had a visual acuity test if you’ve ever looked at a wall chart of letters or …
Acute myelogenous leukemia, also called AML, is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft matter inside bones where blood cells are made. The word “acute” in acute myelogenous leukemia means the disease tends to get worse quickly. It’s called myelogenous (my-uh-LOHJ-uh-nus) leukemia because it affects cells called the myeloid cells. These typically develop into …
Systemic mastocytosis is a rare blood disorder. It happens when your body makes abnormal mast cells. Mast cells are white blood cells and part of your immune system. They’re first responders when allergens and other intruders attack your body. In systemic mastocytosis, abnormal mast cells multiply, setting up a continuous allergic response that may affect your skin and internal organs. Healthcare providers can’t cure systemic mastocytosis, …