Glossary - H

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder due to a deficiency of coagulant factor VII or IX. Severity of the disease is determined by the percent of coagulant present. Less than 1% factor activity is severe, 1%-5% is moderate, and 5%-25% is mild. Those that contain more than 25% factor usually clot after trauma or surgery. Symptoms include bleeding into soft tissues, muscles, and weight bearing joints, nerve damage from large hematomas, and central nervous system bleeding. Both hemophilia A and B are X linked recessive and congenital conditions. The disease affects the hemic, lymphatic, and immunologic systems.

Hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoid is a mass formed by distension of the network of veins under the mucous membrane that lines the anal channel or under the skin lining the external portion of the anus. A form of varicose vein, a hemorrhoid may develop from anal infection or from increase in intra-abdominal pressure, such as occurs during pregnancy while lifting a heavy object, or while straining at stool. It may be a complication of chronic liver disease or tumors. The weakness in the vessel wall that permits the defect to develop may be inherited. Mild hemorrhoids may be treated by such methods as the use of suppositories, non-irritating laxatives, and baths. If clots have formed, or in the presence of other complications, the hemorrhoids may be removed surgically.

Herpes Zoster

Herpes Zoster is a disease usually presenting a painful unilateral dermatomal eruption. Zoster results from the reactivation of the chickenpox virus that was dormant in the dorsal root ganglia. Initial symptoms include tingling and itching, while acute phase symptoms include: fatigue, headache, low-grade fever, dermatomal rash, and weakness. Risk factors include increasing age, spinal surgery, and spinal cord radiation. The disease affects the skin and the exocrine nervous system. The odds of contracting the disease increase with increasing age.

Hodgkin's Disease

Hodgkin's Disease is a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissue, caused by malignant transformation of an uncertain progenitor cell to the pathognomic Reed-Sternberg Cell. The disease spreads to the contiguous lymphoid tissue, and eventually to the non-lymphoid tissue. Signs and symptoms range from enlarged lymph nodes to fever, night sweat, fatigue, and anorexia. The causes of the disease are unknown and affect the hemic, lymphatic, and immunologic systems. First degree relatives and siblings of younger patients are at risk. The risk factors include: immunodeficiency, HIV infection, and autoimmune diseases.

Huntington's Chorea

Huntington's Chorea is an inherited disease characterized by dementia and chorea that has a gradual onset and a slow progression. Symptoms do not develop until after 30 years of age. By the time detection of the disease occurs, the patient has usually transmitted it to the next generation. Some of the symptoms include: impaired recent memory, impaired judgement, depression, anxiety, delusions, incontinence, weight loss, abnormal eye movements, apathy, schizophrenia, and chorea. The cause of this disease is a genetic defect on the short arm of chromosome four. The nervous system is greatly affected by this disease.

Hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by having a cholesterol serum level greater than 200 mg/dl. Those diagnosed with this disease have a high density lipoprotein fraction of cholesterol. The disease affects the endocrine/metabolic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. Signs of the disease are myocardial infarction, stroke, angina pectoris, xanthomata, and claudication. The primary causes are diet, obesity, stress, and heredity; while the secondary causes include hypothyroidism, diabetes, liver disease, and anabolic steroids. The disease is a heterozygous trait and is more prevalent in males.

Hypochondriasis

Hypochondriasis is a mental disorder which is characterized by excessive worrying of one?s health and a preoccupation that one is suffering from some form of disease. Patients tend to search for physicians who will provide them with the diagnosis of the disease they describe, leading to excessive lab tests and expenses. The signs of the disease include preoccupation with fears of having or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person?s misinterpretation of bodily symptoms. The preoccupation persists despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance. The duration of the disturbance is at least six months. The causes can either be biological, life events, childhood events, psychological, or socio-cultural.

 

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