Common Illnesses
Our Human Body meets some common illness,let us see those
- Allergies
- Colds and Flu
- Conjunctivitis ("pink eye“)
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Mononucleosis
- Stomach Aches
Allergies
Allergies are an immune response triggered by allergens, an ordinarily harmful substance.
Causes
People with allergies have especially sensitive immune systems that react when they contact allergens.
Common allergens include:
- foods (nuts, eggs, milk, soy, shellfish, wheat)
- pollen
- mold
- latex
- pet dander
Cold and Flu
Colds and influenza (flu) are the most common illnesses among college students.
Causes
Both of these illnesses are upper respiratory infections, meaning they involve your nose, throat, and lungs. Viruses cause both colds and flu by increasing inflammation of the membranes in the nose and throat.
Conjunctivitis (“pink eye“)
Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelids and part of your eyeballs, has several possible causes. It could be a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction to pollen or animal dander, or a result of chemical irritants (smoke, chlorine, lens solution, etc.)
Diarrhea
Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel movements — is a common problem. It may be present alone or be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss. Luckily, diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a few day
Causes
- Bacterial infection, caused by contaminated food or water
- Viral infection
- Parasites, which can enter the body through food or water
- Food intolerance, such as the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk
- Overuse of alcohol or laxatives
Headaches
Everyone suffers the occasional mild headache, but if you experience debilitating pain and/or abnormally frequent headaches, you probably want to find relief. There are countless causes of headaches, which differ for each person, so you’ll have to do some experimenting to figure out the cause of your pain. Fortunately, the vast majority of headaches are primary headaches, not the result of underlying medical conditions. The three most common types are cluster, tension-type, and migraine.
A cluster headache affects a specific point of the head, often the eye, and is characterized by sharp, piercing pain. Migraine and tension-type headaches are far more common. “Tension“ headaches are now called “tension-type“ headaches because pain is not only caused by stress, but also poor posture, depression, and even sexual activity. In fact, recent studies have shown a connection between low serotonin levels and so-called “tension“ headaches.
Causes
The cause of a headache is often elusive. Although it may seem that your head is pounding for no reason, there is always an explanation for pain. To find out the cause of your headaches, keep a log. Write down the date and time each headache starts and stops, the location of the pain, the nature and severity of the pain, and any factors that seem to trigger the headaches (food, stress, menstrual cycle, medicine, etc.).
- Emotional and physical stress
- Fatigue
- Irregular sleep habits (sleeping too much or too little)
- Skipping meals
- Caffeine use or withdrawal
Stomach Aches
It’s natural to have gas in your digestive tract, and to pass gas regularly. In fact, everyone passes gas at least 12 times a day, which is a combination of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. The unpleasant odor of flatus is cause by gases (e.g. hydrogen sulfide) produced by the bacteria in the large intestine. Even though it’s natural to have gas in your digestive tract, excessive gas can cause intense, temporary pain. People who suffer discomfort from gas in the intestine report abdominal bloating, flatulence, and jabbing pains or cramps in the abdomen. Intestinal gas can mimic the pain associated with real illnesses, like gallbladder disease, heart disease, and appendicitis, but be aware that it can also signal other illnesses, such as stomach flu or food poisoning