Diseases

What is Parkinson's Disease? Parkinson's disease is related to a loss of nerve cells in your brain that produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is an important factor in controlling movement. The exact cause of PD is not yet known. Family history, aging, or...

What is Osgood-Schlatter Disease? Osgood-Schlatter disease occurs when there is irritation to the top, front portion of the shin bone (tibia) where the tendon attached to the kneecap (patella) meets the shin bone. It occurs when there is an increased amount of stress...

What is HIV Disease and AIDS? HIV disease is due to infection with HIV, a retrovirus. Commonly, HIV is passed on through sexual relations with an infected person, exposure to contaminated blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding....

What Is Degenerative Disk Disease? Your spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another. Between each of these vertebrae is a rubbery piece of cartilage called an "intervertebral disk." (See images: Degenerative Disk Disease - Cervical |...

What Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the airways in your lung lose their normal shape and elasticity, and can become inflamed. The result is that the airways are less efficient at moving air in and out of your...

What is Blount's Disease? Blount' disease is a growth disorder of the lower leg bone (tibia), commonly called the shin bone, and is characterized by a bowing (pronounced boh-ing) appearance of the leg below the knee joint. One or both legs can be affected. Some...

What Is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that damages brain cells and affects how we speak, think, and interact with other people. It's the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain disorders that cause a decline in memory and...