List of Eligible Illnesses

What is the definition of addiction?

An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward, motivation, and memory. It’s about the way your body craves a substance or behaviour, especially if it causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” and lack of concern over consequences.

Someone experiencing an addiction will:

• be unable stay away from the substance or stop the addictive behaviour
• display a lack of self-control
• have an increased desire for the substance or behaviour
• dismiss how their behaviour may be causing problems
• lack an emotional response

Over time, addictions can seriously interfere with your daily life. People experiencing addiction are also prone to cycles of relapse and remission. This means they may cycle between intense and mild use. Despite these cycles, addictions will typically worsen over time. They can lead to permanent health complications and serious consequences like bankruptcy.

Source: healthline.com

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It’s typically diagnosed in children, but adults can experience symptoms, too. The symptoms are usually divided into two categories:

• inattention, or the inability to focus
• hyperactivity-impulsivity, or the inability to stay still or control behaviour

Most children experience symptoms of both. This is also known as ADHD combined type.

Inattentiveness symptoms

Examples of inattentiveness symptoms include:

• struggling to follow instructions
• appearing to not listen when spoken to
• becoming easily distracted
• having difficulty following through on tasks or assignments
• losing or forgetting things or events

Hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms

The most common symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity include:

• fidgeting or squirming
• being unable to remain seated for long periods
• talking nonstop
• blurting out answers
• being impatient
• interrupting or butting into other peoples’ conversations
• having difficulty waiting your turn
• being constantly “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor”

A person with combined type ADHD will display six or more of these signs and six or more signs of inattentiveness.

Also, to diagnose ADHD, a person must have:

• several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms present before the age of 12 years
• symptoms present in two or more settings (such as at home, school or work; with friends or relatives; in other activities)
• symptoms that interfere with or reduce the quality of social, school, or work functioning
• symptoms that are not better explained by another mental disorder (such as a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder.

Source: healthline.com

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia usually involves a fear of being caught in a place where “escape” would not be easy, or would be embarrassing. This includes:

• malls
• airplanes
• trains
• theatres

You may begin to avoid the places and situations where you had a panic attack before, for fear it might happen again. This fear can keep you from traveling freely or even leaving your home.

Source: healthline.com

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes a loss of voluntary muscle control that worsens over time. This affects movements like talking, swallowing, and walking.

Unfortunately, no cure has been found yet. But treatments are available that can reduce symptoms and may help people with ALS to live longer.

The famous baseball player Lou Gehrig developed symptoms of the condition in the 1930s, and that’s why it’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

What body systems are affected by ALS?

While ALS specifically affects the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord, other body systems that rely on these neurons will be impacted as the disease progresses. As the ability to control voluntary muscles declines, functions like breathing, speaking, and moving are affected.

Source: healthline.com

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a primary cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease damages nerve cells in the brain. In the early stages, there may not be many, if any, symptoms. Short-term memory loss is often the first sign.

Over time, as more neurons are damaged, Alzheimer’s disease results in problems with judgment, language, and thought processes. Eventually, it affects a person’s ability to function and care for themselves.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be very upsetting for the person who receives the diagnosis and for their loved ones.

There’s ongoing research into ways to prevent and manage Alzheimer’s disease. As we learn more about how Alzheimer’s disease develops, we may be able to prevent or slow the progression.

Source: healthline.com

What is Amputation?

An amputation is a removal of all or a portion of a limb. A doctor may recommend this surgery approach due to chronic disease or a traumatic injury. While amputations are understandably sometimes tough to think about, they can be life saving.

Source: healthline.com

What is Angina?

Angina is a type of chest pain that results from reduced blood flow to the heart. A lack of blood flow means your heart muscle isn’t getting enough oxygen. The pain is often triggered by physical activity or emotional stress.

Stable angina, also called angina pectoris, is the most common type of angina. Stable angina is a predictable pattern of chest pain. You can usually track the pattern based on what you’re doing when you feel the pain in your chest. Tracking stable angina can help you manage your symptoms more easily.

Unstable angina is another form of angina. It occurs suddenly and gets worse over time. It may eventually lead to a heart attack.

Source: healthline.com

What is Ankle Fusion Surgery?

Ankle fusion surgery is a procedure that fuses, or combines, the bones of the ankle using plates, screws, or bone grafts. It’s also called ankle arthrodesis. The surgery is done to treat pain caused by end-stage ankle arthritis.

Ankle arthritis causes inflammation in the ankle joint. It can make movement and daily tasks, like walking, uncomfortable. An ankle fusion helps by limiting movement, thus relieving ankle pain.

Ankle fusion surgery may also be used to treat ankle pain caused by other conditions, like deformities or infections.

Source: healthline.com

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Many people worry about gaining too much weight. But in some people the worry becomes obsessive, resulting in a condition called anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can result in severe weight loss. A person with anorexia is preoccupied with calorie intake and weight.

People with anorexia nervosa eat an extremely low calorie diet and have an excessive fear of gaining weight. They often feel better about themselves when they lose weight. They may also exercise excessively. Anorexia is most commonly diagnosed in adolescent women, but it’s been diagnosed in older and younger women and in men.

Those with anorexia nervosa lose weight and maintain their extremely low weight in different ways. While some put severe restrictions on their calorie intake, others exercise excessively. Some employ a binge and purge method similar to that used by those with bulimia. Others use laxatives, vomiting, or diuretics to rid themselves of calories. If you have anorexia nervosa, your symptoms may include:

• inability to maintain a normal weight
• fatigue
• insomnia
• skin that is yellow or blotchy and covered with soft, fine hairs
• hair thinning or falling out
• constipation
• more than three cycles without a period
• dry skin
• low blood pressure

You may also notice behaviours such as:

• excessive exercise
• pushing food around the plate instead of eating it, or cutting food into small pieces
• irritability
• withdrawal from social activities
• depressed mood
• hunger denial
• use of diuretics, laxatives, or diet pills

Source: healthline.com

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental conditions.

These conditions are characterized by differences in communication and social interaction. People with ASD often demonstrate restricted and repetitive interests or patterns of behaviour.

ASD is found in people around the world, regardless of race and ethnicity, culture, or economic background.

What are the symptoms of autism?

Symptoms of ASD typically become clearly evident during early childhood, between ages 12 and 24 months. However, symptoms may also appear earlier or later.

Early symptoms may include a marked delay in language or social development.

The DSM-5 divides symptoms of ASD into two categories:

• problems with communication and social interaction
• restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities

Problems with communication and social interaction

ASD can involve a range of issues with communication, many of which appear before age 5.

As they age, they might have difficulty talking or very limited speaking skills. Other autistic children might develop language skills at an uneven pace. If there’s a particular topic that’s very interesting to them, for example, they might develop a very strong vocabulary for talking about that one topic. But they might have difficulty communicating about other things.

As autistic children begin talking, they might also talk in an unusual tone that can range from high-pitched and “sing-songy” to robotic or flat.

They might also show signs of hyperlexia, which involves reading beyond what’s expected of their age. Children on the autism spectrum might learn to read earlier than their neurotypical peers, sometimes as early as age 2. But they tend to not comprehend what they’re reading.

As they interact with others, autistic children might have difficulty sharing their emotions and interests with others or find it hard to maintain back-and-forth conversation. Nonverbal communication, like maintaining eye contact or body language, might also remain difficult.

These challenges with communication can persist throughout adulthood.

Restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities

In addition to the communication and social issues mentioned above, autism also includes symptoms related to body movements and behaviours.

These can include:

• repetitive movements, like rocking, flapping their arms, spinning, or running back and forth
• lining objects, like toys, up in strict order and getting upset when that order is disturbed
• attachment to strict routines, like those around bedtime or getting to school
• repeating words or phrases they hear someone say over and over again
• getting upset over minor changes
• focusing intently on parts of objects, like the wheel of a toy truck or the hair of a doll
• unusual reactions to sensory input, like sounds, smells, and tastes
• obsessive interests
• exceptional abilities, like musical talent or memory capabilities

Source: healthline.com

What is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

More research about Crohn’s disease is necessary. Researchers aren’t sure how it begins, who is most likely to develop it, or how to best manage it. Despite major treatment advances in the last 3 decades, no cure is available yet.

Crohn’s disease most commonly occurs in the small intestine and the colon. It can affect any part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. It can involve some parts of the GI tract and skip other parts.

The range of severity for Crohn’s is mild to debilitating. Symptoms vary and can change over time. In severe cases, the disease can lead to life threatening flares and complications.

Crohn’s symptoms

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease often develop gradually. Certain symptoms may also become worse over time. Although it’s possible, it’s rare for symptoms to develop suddenly and dramatically. The earliest symptoms of Crohn’s disease can include:

• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps
• blood in your stool
• fever
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• feeling as if your bowels aren’t empty after a bowel movement
• feeling a frequent need for bowel movements

The symptoms may become more severe as the disease progresses. More troublesome symptoms may include:

• a perianal fistula, which causes pain and drainage near your anus
• ulcers that may occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus
• inflammation of the joints and skin
• shortness of breath or decreased ability to exercise due to anemia

Early detection and diagnosis can help you avoid severe complications and allow you to begin treatment early.

Source: healthline.com

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to simply as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar.

The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.

Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. But educating yourself about diabetes and taking steps to prevent or manage it can help you protect your health.

Types of diabetes

• Type 1: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack.
• Type 2: Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood.
• Gestational: Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, although it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your kidneys remove too much fluid from your body.

Each type of diabetes has unique symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Source: healthline.com

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to simply as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar.

The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.

Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. But educating yourself about diabetes and taking steps to prevent or manage it can help you protect your health.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack.

Source: healthline.com

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) worry uncontrollably about common occurrences and situations. It’s also sometimes known as chronic anxiety neurosis.

GAD is different from normal feelings of anxiousness. Most people feel anxious at times about aspects of life, such as their finances, but people with GAD feel overwhelmed by their problems and their anxiety.

If you have GAD, you may worry constantly about a range of everyday things, such as your family, health, or finances. You may do this, even when you’re aware there isn’t a reason to worry.

This excessive, unrealistic worry can be frightening and can interfere with relationships and daily activities. However, a range of treatment options are available.

Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder

Physical and mental symptoms of GAD include:

• perceiving situations as more threatening than they are
• difficulty in letting go of worries
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping
• difficulty with uncertain situations
• irritability, nervousness, overthinking, and difficulty relaxing
• fatigue and exhaustion
• muscle tension
• twitching or trembling
• sweating (including sweaty palms)
• repeated stomachaches, diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal issues
• feeling shaky or weak
• rapid heartbeat
• dry mouth
• being easily startled
• neurological symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in different parts of the body

Source: healthline.com

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a childhood mental health condition involving disruptive behaviour.

Nearly every child will have occasional outbursts of frustration and disobedience, of course. ODD doesn’t refer to developmentally appropriate temper tantrums or willful behaviour. Instead, ODD involves:

• a long standing pattern of defiant and argumentative behaviour or attitudes toward caregivers, teachers, or other adults
• vindictiveness toward others
• a frequently irritable and angry mood or short temper

ODD can make it very challenging to interact with other people. Again, the behaviours that characterize this condition go beyond whats typical for a childs age and developmental stage.

Tantrums generally begin to taper off by the age of 4. So, you might have some cause for concern when a school aged child continues to have regular tantrums, especially ones severe enough to disrupt everyday life.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of ODD often begin by the time a child enters preschool, but nearly always by early adolescence. In general, children typically show signs by the time they enter school.

Sometimes, these signs only show up in one environment or with one individual. For example, children with ODD might only show symptoms at home with family members, or around people they know fairly well.

More severe symptoms, however, usually show up in multiple contexts, where they can affect social relationships and development along with school or work.

Source: healthline.com

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic disorder of the nervous system, which is made up of pathways of cells and neurons that send and receive signals throughout your body.

Parkinsons disease is caused by the loss of nerve cells in a part of your brain called the substantia nigra. These cells control the production of the chemical dopamine. Dopamine helps control movement in your body. But when the cells are impaired, less dopamine is produced.

This condition isn’t fatal, but it can cause severe symptoms that impact everyday movement and mobility.

Hallmark symptoms include tremors and trouble with gait and balance. These symptoms develop because the brains ability to communicate is impaired.

Source: healthline.com

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is named after its effects on the joints. However, the autoimmune symptoms it causes can affect systems throughout the body.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. When someone has RA, their immune system mistakenly attacks the joints as well as other organs and tissues.

The most common symptoms of RA are directly related to joint damage. Additional symptoms are due to the widespread effects of an overactive immune system.

Source: healthline.com

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The normal shape of a person’s spine includes a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. If your spine is curved from side to side or in an “S” or “C” shape, you might have scoliosis.

The condition is often diagnosed during the first 7 years of a child’s life. Common causes, when they can be pinpointed, are:

• birth defects
• neurological abnormalities
• genetic conditions

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms vary depending on the degree of scoliosis. Common symptoms associated with scoliosis include:

• one shoulder blade that’s higher than the other
• one shoulder blade that sticks out more than the other
• uneven hips
• a rotating spine
• problems breathing because of reduced area in the chest for lungs to expand
• back pain

Source: healthline.com

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common and potentially serious sleep disorder in which your breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to type 2 diabetes and heart disease while increasing your likelihood of stroke and heart attack.

Sleep apnea can affect toddlers, children, and adults, although some of the identifying symptoms are different depending on your age.

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in adults

If a number of these 13 signs describe you, then there’s a good chance you may have sleep apnea:

• You snore loudly.
• Your bed partner says that you snore and sometimes stop breathing when you sleep.
• You sometimes wake up abruptly with shortness of breath.
• You sometimes wake up choking or gasping.
• You often wake up to use the bathroom.
• You wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat.
• You often wake up with a headache.
• You have insomnia (difficulty staying asleep).
• You have hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness).
• You have attention, concentration, or memory problems while awake.
• You are irritable and experience mood swings.
• You have risk factors for sleep apnea, such as being overweight or obese, drinking alcohol, or smoking tobacco.
• You have a decreased interest in sex or are experiencing sexual dysfunction.

Source: healthline.com

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder – sometimes known as social phobia – is a type of anxiety disorder that causes anxiety or fear in social settings.

Someone with this disorder has trouble talking with people, meeting new people, and attending social gatherings. They may feel anxious about others judging or scrutinizing them.

They may understand their fears are irrational but feel powerless to overcome them. Social anxiety is persistent and overwhelming and may affect everyday activities, such as shopping for groceries.

What are the symptoms?

For a person with social anxiety disorder, social interaction may lead to:

• blushing
• nausea
• sweating
• trembling or shaking
• a rigid body stance
• difficulty speaking
• feeling as if their mind goes blank
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• rapid heart rate

Psychological symptoms may include:

• intense worry before, during, and after a social situation
• avoiding social situations or trying to blend into the background if you must attend
• self-consciousness and fear of doing something embarrassing
• concerns that others will notice you’re stressed or nervous
• feeling a need to consume alcohol to help face a social situation
• missing school or work because of anxiety

Source: healthline.com

What is Spinal Stenosis?

The column of bones known as the spine provides stability and support to your upper body, enabling you to twist and turn.

The spinal cord is made up of spinal nerves, which conduct signals from your brain to the rest of your body. The nerves are usually protected by the surrounding bone and tissues. If the spinal nerves are damaged or impaired, it can affect functions such as walking, balance, and sensation.

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which spaces in the spine narrow, compressing the spinal cord. This process is typically gradual. It can occur anywhere along the spine.

If the narrowing is minimal, no symptoms will occur. But too much narrowing can compress your nerves and cause problems.

There are multiple types of spinal stenosis. They include:

• lumbar spinal stenosis, which affects the lower back
• cervical spinal stenosis, which affects the neck
• foraminal stenosis, which affects the openings in your bones (foramen)
• tandem spinal stenosis, which affects at least two areas of the spine

Spinal stenosis symptoms

The symptoms of spinal stenosis typically progress over time as nerves become more compressed.

If you have spinal stenosis, you might experience:

• leg or arm weakness
• numbness in your legs or buttocks
• lower back pain while standing or walking
• balance problems

Sitting in a chair usually helps relieve these symptoms. However, the symptoms may return when you stand or walk.

Source: healthline.com

What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds, or when there’s a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The rupture or blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain’s tissues.

Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue become damaged and begin to die within minutes.

There are three primary types of strokes:

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) involves a blood clot that typically reverses on its own.
• Ischemic stroke involves a blockage caused by either a clot or plaque in the artery. The symptoms and complications of ischemic stroke can last longer than those of a TIA, or may become permanent.
• Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by either a burst or leaking blood vessel that seeps into the brain.

Stroke symptoms

The loss of blood flow to the brain damages tissues within the brain. Symptoms of a stroke show up in the body parts controlled by the damaged areas of the brain.

The sooner a person having a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it’s helpful to know the signs of a stroke so you can act quickly. Stroke symptoms can include:

• paralysis
• numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
• trouble speaking or understanding others
• slurred speech
• confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
• sudden behavioural changes, especially increased agitation
• vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
• trouble walking
• loss of balance or coordination
• dizziness
• severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause
• seizures
• nausea or vomiting

Source: healthline.com

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder. It is a syndrome that involves recurrent involuntary tics, which are repeated, involuntary physical movements and vocal outbursts. The exact cause is unknown.

Tourette syndrome is a tic syndrome. Tics are involuntary muscle spasms. They consist of sudden, recurring twitches of a group of muscles.

The most frequent forms of tics involve:

• blinking
• sniffing
• grunting
• throat clearing
• grimacing
• shoulder movements
• head movements

What are the symptoms of Tourette syndrome?

Symptoms can vary from one person to another. The symptoms include uncontrollable tics and spontaneous vocal outbursts. They usually first appear between ages 4 and 6 starting with small muscle tics of the head and neck. Eventually, other tics may appear in the trunk (torso) or limbs.

People diagnosed with Tourette syndrome often have both a motor tic and a vocal tic. Motor tics involve movement, while vocal tics involve sounds or speech.

The symptoms tend to worsen during periods of:

• excitement
• stress
• anxiety

Symptoms are generally most severe during your early teen years.

Tics are classified by type, as in motor or vocal, such as involuntary speech disorder. Further classification includes simple or complex tics.

Simple tics usually involve only one muscle group and are brief. Complex tics are coordinated patterns of movements or vocalizations that involve several muscle groups.

Source: healthline.com