Nearly one-third of the world’s population suffers from various allergies, and it manifests differently across cases. An allergic reaction occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to a harmless substance that does not bother most people. These substances, called allergens, are perceived as a threat, and the body releases a chemical called histamine in response, which produces allergic symptoms.

Through decades of research, more than 300 agents that cause infectious diseases have been discovered. These agents significantly impact your health and are transferrable to other seemingly healthy individuals, increasing the risk of exposure. Knowing the common symptoms and risk factors of these infectious diseases and how to keep them at bay is crucial to keeping yourself and those around you safe.

Arthritis is a chronic health condition characterized by tenderness or swelling in one or more joints. The primary symptoms include joint stiffness and pain, which worsens with age. There are different types of the disease, and treatment can vary depending on it. However, arthritis is incurable, and the treatments only help reduce flare-ups and improve quality of life.

The endocrine system is responsible for the production of multiple hormones in the human body. These hormones regulate important functions that help the body to heal itself, control metabolic functions, regulate mood and sleep, and aid in growth and development. However, certain endocrine conditions result in disruption in the production of hormones and interfere with bodily functions, leading to more severe disease.

Human beings are vulnerable to several diseases and health conditions throughout their life. Although some health conditions can be prevented through various measures, inherited diseases can rarely be cured. These are called genetic disorders. The National Institute of Health has defined a genetic disorder as a disease that occurs due to a change in DNA sequence.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is an involuntary contracting of the muscles in the pelvic region. This creates an urge to urinate even when the bladder isn’t actually full. This urge can happen frequently, even within a small period of time. Symptoms of an overactive bladder are usually having an urgent need to urinate, waking up at night to urinate, or losing control of your bladder.

Migraines are a type of headache that causes throbbing pain, especially focused on one side of the head. Migraine symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light, smell, and sound. While avoiding environmental migraine triggers (i.e., weather, smells, etc.) is key for prevention, certain foods or drinks can also trigger a migraine attack for about 10% of sufferers.

Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness that can result in equally difficult symptoms. While schizophrenia is one of the more uncommon mental disorders; it’s also one of the most debilitating. Warning symptoms may include confusion, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking, and in extreme cases may feature disassociation and delusions, and hallucinations.

Gout is a condition in which uric acid crystals build up in the joints, causing intense pain and inflammation. Gouty arthritis typically affects the joints in the feet, particularly the big toe, but it can occur in any joint, depending on the circumstances. The best way to manage gout and prevent frequent flareups is through lifestyle changes including eating habits, exercise, and stress reduction.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that develops when blood sugar levels are higher than usual. The primary source of energy for your body is blood glucose, which is normally derived from the foods we eat. Type 1 diabetes arises if the body is not able to produce insulin, while type 2 occurs when the body isn’t able to utilize insulin for energy properly.

Migraines are debilitating headaches that often cause symptoms of blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Many different environmental factors, including weather, stress, and even smell can trigger a migraine. In fact, 95-percent of migraine sufferers report sensitivity to certain smells, which is known as osmophobia. Specific odors known to trigger migraine attacks include:

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start temporarily during slumber. Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, choking during sleep, dry mouth, sore throat upon waking, morning headaches, and daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea is most common among older males (who are three times more affected than women) and obese individuals.