The Diseases Most Often Missed

The Diseases Most Often Missed

By Mr. Ghaz, January 8, 2009

The Diseases Most Often Missed

Nowadays, there are many others who spend years suffering from unexplained health problems. Here are some of the diseases most often missed.

Heart Disease

About half of the world’s cardiovascular burden occurs in the Asia Pacific region. Women are less likely to be diagnosed, mainly because their symptoms can be different from men’s, such as unexplained fatigue, trouble sleeping, and lower chest or abdominal pressure, which can be mistaken for heartburn, chronic fatigue or anxiety.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD, which covers chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is often as misdiagnosed and under treated as asthma.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a major cause of acute hepatitis and chronic liver disease. WHO estimates about one hundred and seventy million people was infected. The prevalence in Asia is higher than in Europe and the US.

Sleep Apnea

If you have been told you are snorer at night or you can’t explain why you feel so tired during the day, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, which can significantly increase the risk of stroke or death.

Chlamydia

WHO estimates that the Asia Pacific region accounts for half the world’s Chlamydia cases, yet most cases are not reported because of lack of symptoms! Chlamydia can damage reproductive organs and cause infertility and chronic pelvic pain in women.

Hemochromatosis

This overload of iron in the body can lead to liver or heart failure, diabetes, even death. Symptoms include fatigue, joint pain and loss of sex drive.

Celiac Disease

It takes an average of eleven tears in adults to diagnose celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune disorder in which sufferers can’t digest gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease is also more prevalent than first thought, affecting about one in two hundred individual.

Hypothyroidism

About half of the nearly twenty seven million people with an underactive thyroid are undiagnosed. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and poor memory are often dismissed as normal signs of aging.

Lupus

This autoimmune disease, found mainly in women, can cause common symptoms such as fatigue, achy or swollen joints and fevers. More than half say they suffered for at least four years and saw three or more doctors before getting the correct diagnosis.

Conclusion

To prevent others from suffering for so long with a misdiagnosis, you can joint the medical conferences, such as Cushing’s Foundation, etc.; working to increase awareness of the disease among the medical community. It is important to the public to be aware of Cushing’s. An ordinary person might recognize or notice a friend who is obese and say `You know, I read about Cushing’s disease, and I think you should get tested.' That could make all the difference.