What You Don't See Does Exist ...Among 125 Million Americans

According to PBS online, 125 million americans are living with a chronic condition. By the year 2020, this number is expected to rise to 157 million, with quarter of the population living with multiple illnesses. There are a number of conditions such as diabetes, cancer, glaucoma on the rise, but here are a few you might not be as familiar with....

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and anxiety.

*This condition effects 2% of the U.S. population

Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This leads to long-term (chronic) inflammation. Symptoms include chest pain, hair loss, headache, skin lesions/rash, mouth sores, fatigue, light sensitivity, and on the ongoing feeling of illness. 

*1.5 million Americans have some form of lupus. (2012)

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the peritoneum which lines the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include painful periods, pain with sex, digestive issues, chemical sensitivities and fatique.

Throbbing, gnawing, and dragging pain to the legs are reported more commonly by women with endometriosis.

*Nearly 6 million women in the U.S. have endometriosis. 

POTS/ Dysautonomia

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is defined by excessive heart rate increments upon upright posture. A person with POTS will experience heart rates that increase 30 beats or more per minute upon standing and/or increase to 120 beats or more per minute upon standing. The symptoms of POTS are life altering and debilitating at times. POTS patients use about three times more energy to stand than a healthy person. It is as if these patients are running in place all the time. Activities such as housework, bathing, and even meals can exacerbate symptoms.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the "flu" or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, your immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn't the case with HIV – the human immune system can't seem to get rid of it. Scientists are still trying to figure out why.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the final stage of HIV infection. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs).

*CDC estimates that more than one million people are living with HIV in the U.S.. One in five (20%) of those people living with HIV is unaware of their infection. (2012)