Leukemia affects the bone marrow in our body. It results in the rapid and abnormal production of white blood cells. Every year, almost 45,000 people are affected by this disease. There are many common types of leukemia and are classified by how fast they progress. Here are some common types of leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia – ALL This type of leukemia is more commonly diagnosed in children. It starts developing in the B or T lymphocytes that are also known as immature white blood cells. ALL can attack the entire bone marrow and even spread to the liver, lymph nodes, and spleen. This disease can be further classified based on its progression rate and the lymphocytes it attacks. Acute myeloid leukemia – AML This leukemia is the most common among adults. The progression rate of this disease is rapid, and it affects all the different elements of the blood. This affects the blood in two ways- Attack the lymphoid cells that change into white blood cells. Attack the myeloid cells, which can become white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets. This disease spreads throughout the body, so it can overtake the normal cells in the blood. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia – CLL Almost one-third of the leukemia diagnosis turns out to be CLL and affects people in their 40s or 50s.

Renal cancer is not a common kind of cancer. The risk increases if you are obese or a smoker. Sometimes it has genetic ties. If so, you should consult a doctor. However, there are certain early warning symptoms of kidney cancer that everyone at risk should watch out for. Those are the following. Hard to locate Symptoms of skin cancer and breast cancer are easy to locate as they generally present a lump on the body. However, because the kidneys are inside the body, finding symptoms becomes harder as there are hardly any growths. Unfortunately, no screening test is available for kidney cancer. But there are some differences that you can notice, and if you are at high risk, you should go to the doctor. Bloody urine One very common and often occurring symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine. At least 50% of the people with cancer will experience this symptom. Even just a drop will lead to a change in the color of the urine. The consistency of the blood varies and may appear erratically. Sometimes, the person may even have to get a urine test done for clear detection of blood. Other than cancer, kidney infection and stones are also responsible for this symptom.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious and rare disease that develops in the lungs when the blood vessels inside the organ become narrow and scarred. The treatment options may vary according to the causes and symptoms of PAH. However, there are some risk factors for PAH we should all look out for to prevent getting sick. Here are some of the major ones to be aware of. Family History This is one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to determining the chances of PAH. If more than two family members have had PAH or a relative is known to carry the PAH gene, you are more at risk of contracting the disease. It is best to discuss this with a doctor and get counseling on what can be done to either prevent the disease or to make a plan of action for the future. Obesity with Sleep Apnea Separately, obesity may not be considered a big risk for PAH. However, if a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, that is their oxygen levels go down while sleeping, they may be at risk of getting a mild case of PAH. However, it is always advised to maintain your weight as the extra weight does put pressure on your lungs.

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding problem in which a patient has a lower level of “clotting factors,” a protein responsible for the clotting of our blood. As a result, people who have hemophilia cannot clot blood properly. This can also mean excessive bleeding and many complications. Here are some risk factors for hemophilia. Types There are three types of Hemophilia- A.B and C. hemophilia A is caused by the lack of factor VIII and is the most common. Hemophilia B is due to the lack of factor IX and is also known as Christmas disease. Hemophilia C is caused because of the deficiency of factor XI, and it is an uncommon type. Hemophilia isn’t curable but can be managed to reduce symptoms and further complications. Symptoms The symptoms of hemophilia depend on the severity of the condition and what factors they are attacking. In people where the disease is considered mild, bleeding may happen only due to some severe injury or trauma. Those with a more serious condition may experience bleeding for no reason whatsoever. Some symptoms that tend to occur around the age of 2 are as follows Bloody urine and stool Bruising easily Large and deep bruises Bleeding profusely Nosebleeds happen often Gums bleed Irritability Sudden and unexplained bleeding Causes When we bleed, our body works to clot to stop the bleeding using clotting factors.

Deep vein thrombosis, DVT, is a severe condition where blood clots in the body’s major veins. This disease is not pointed toward one gender, but some people are at higher risk. These clots can become life-threatening. Here are some risk factors for DVT. Symptoms DVT mainly happens to people over 50 years of age. Mostly, the clot tends to form in the leg. However, some common symptoms of the disease can be identified and action can be taken. Some of these symptoms are as follows. Inflammation in the calves or legs Pain in the leg or tenderness. This tends to worsen when you walk. The swollen part of the leg feels warmer than the rest of the body. The swollen part is red. People ignore many of these symptoms, and they only realize it when they get a pulmonary embolism. If people suffer from trouble breathing or have an increased heart rate, they should consult a doctor. Uncontrolled risk factors There are many risk factors for this disease. Some of these factors are under no control of the person. The following are the uncontrolled risk factors: Old age: people generally over 50 are affected. Pregnancy Having cancer or getting cancer treatment Having an inherent blood clotting disorder Heart problems Family history of DVT Inflammatory bowel disease Paralysis or if a person has required bed rest for a long time Surgery that increases the risk of DVT A catheter has been inserted in your vein.

Those who suffer from anemia either lack red blood cells in their bodies or have red blood cells that are not as productive as they should be. A person suffering from anemia experiences weakness, tiredness, and even breathing difficulties. Anemia comes in many different forms. This article focuses on the rare forms of anemia: Sideroblastic anemia When a person suffers from sideroblastic anemia, their body is unable to make use of iron in order to produce hemoglobin, which is the protein that is used for taking the oxygen to the blood. There are two different types of sideroblastic anemia — hereditary sideroblastic anemia and acquired sideroblastic anemia. Hereditary sideroblastic anemia involves the disruption of the production of normal hemoglobin. This is caused due to a gene mutation. This gene is responsible for something called “heme,” which is part of the hemoglobin that carries oxygen. When it comes to acquired sideroblastic anemia, this type of anemia is caused because of the person suffering from it has been exposed to a specific kind of drugs or chemicals. Aplastic anemia A person suffering from aplastic anemia will have the stem cells (which make the blood cells) in their body damaged. Because of the damaged stem cells, the body is unable to produce the required red blood cells.

Colon cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the large intestine of a person’s body. This cancer is often found to affect adults that cross a certain age. But this does not mean that it cannot occur at any age. There are many treatments that are used for colon cancer, some of them being chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Now, let us learn more about the common causes and symptoms of colon cancer: Symptoms of colon cancer Weakness One of the most common symptoms that a person experiences when suffering from colon cancer is weakness. Now this symptom can be mistaken very easily as a person simply being tired, but one should be more careful and attentive as this is one of the most common symptoms of colon cancer. Bleeding in the stool The people who are experiencing bleeding in the stool should immediately get medical assistance. This is because the bleeding could be a sign of colon cancer. Any sign of rectal bleeding or blood found in your stool should be reported to the doctor. Discomfort in the abdomen People with colon cancer may also experience symptoms such as feeling discomfort in the abdomen, getting cramps, going through pain, or even passing gas.

Breast cancer affects numerous women across the US. It is generally diagnosed in women 50 years or older. So how do we prevent or minimize the risk of getting this disease? Here are some common risk factors for breast cancer that we can look out for and possibly change our lifestyle accordingly. Weight Obesity is a common risk factor for breast cancer and it is especially true for women who have gone through menopause. Once the ovaries stop producing estrogen, the responsibility falls on the fat tissue inside the body. If a woman has excess fat tissue she will have higher levels of estrogen which can increase the risk of getting breast cancer. Diet There is still extensive research going on about the risk posed by diet in contracting breast cancer. However, there are certain tips that are given by dieticians and doctors. Here are some of them- A healthy weight is imperative. BMI can give a person an idea if they are in a healthy weight range or not. Consumption of fruits and vegetables every day is important. Try incorporating these two food groups in every meal if possible. Intake of saturated fat such as junk food should be limited to a minimum.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection present in the liver. It is not easy for the body to get rid of this disease and generally Hep C runs the risk of becoming chronic. The problem is that Hep C doesn’t show any immediate symptoms. Here are some rarer symptoms of Hepatitis C that we can look out for.  Early signs of Hepatitis C Although Hep C symptoms may not appear for a very long time, if they do, they may resemble flu symptoms. Some of these symptoms are: Dark-colored urine  Pain in the belly  Tiredness  High body temperature  Pain in the joints The feeling of nausea and vomiting  Low appetite. These symptoms generally emerge after 2 to 12 weeks of being exposed to the virus.  Rare symptoms of Hepatitis C If a person remains undiagnosed and untreated for a long period, they may develop chronic Hep C. This can often lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis. Along with the early signs, these are some rarer symptoms of chronic Hep C: A person bruises and bleeds easily  They are drowsy and have slurred speech. This is known as Hepatic encephalopathy. Rashes on the skin or sudden hives Itchiness  They see spidery blood vessels form under the skin.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) most commonly affects children and prevents them from using their muscles properly. This happens because there is a communication gap between the spinal cord and the brain. The nerve cells don’t reach the brain on time. There are some early warning signs of spinal muscular atrophy that parents can look out for. These signs are mentioned as per the type of SMA that affects a person. SMA Type 1 This is the most severe kind of disease. Parents can see signs as early as when the baby is only 6 months old. The baby may have a hard time sitting and may not be able to keep his head straight on his own. The child may not be able to use his limbs and they may look “floppy.” The baby may also have difficulty swallowing food. Most babies suffering from this type don’t live for more than 2 years as they suffer from breathing problems. SMA Type 2 This type is first seen in children between the ages of 6 to 18 months. The symptoms for this type generally affect the legs more than they affect the arms and they can either be moderate or severe.