List of Critical Illnesses -Their Treatments and Prevention

All About Critical Illness List : Critical Illness Meaning and Diagnosis

Health is not valued till sickness comes. This proverb says that we generally don’t consider our well-being until we experience illness. Illness or critical illness comes all of a sudden, so preventing them will help you. Let’s understand the critical illness meaning and the list of critical illnesses here.

What is Critical Illness?

Critical illness is a serious and potentially life-threatening health condition that needs extensive treatment and a prolonged recovery time period. These illnesses often have an important impact on a person's life, both physically and financially. Examples of critical illnesses are cancer, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and paralysis.    

List of Critical Illnesses

There are many critical illnesses. Here is the list of critical illnesses.

1. Kidney Failure : Kidney failure, also called renal failure, refers to a condition in which the kidneys lose their capability to filter enough waste products from the human blood.
2. Stroke : A stroke is a condition that happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, thus resulting in the brain cells dying because of lack of oxygen and nutrients.
3. Coma : A coma refers to a state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person is unresponsive to their environment and cannot be awakened. This refers to a medical emergency that needs immediate attention because of potential underlying causes such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or drug overdose.
4. Blindness : Blindness refers to a condition in which a person is not able to see, either partially or completely. This can range from low vision, in which a little sight remains, to total blindness, in which there is no perception of light.  
5. Cancer : Cancer refers to a group of diseases that is characterised by abnormal cell growth that can spread to other parts of the body. It's a leading cause of death worldwide, with different types affecting different parts of the body. 
6. Organ failure : Organ failure happens when an organ in the body—like the heart, liver, kidneys, or lungs—stops functioning properly enough to support life.It can occur suddenly (acute) or gradually over time (chronic), and is often the result of injury, disease, or a lack of oxygen or blood flow.
7. Multiple Sclerosis : Multiple sclerosis (MS) refers to a chronic or often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. 
8. Paralysis : Paralysis refers to the loss of muscle function in part or all of the body, leading to the inability to move. This can be temporary or permanent and can affect any part of the body.  
9. Alzheimer's Disease : Alzheimer's disease refers to a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that basically affects memory and cognitive function. This is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases.
10. Heart Attack : A heart attack refers to a serious medical emergency where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, generally by a blood clot. A heart attack is a medical emergency.  
11. Parkinson's Disease : Parkinson's disease refers to a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement but also involves non-motor symptoms. It comes from the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain that generate dopamine, a neurotransmitter which is important for movement coordination.
12. Pulmonary hypertension : Pulmonary hypertension refers to a condition in which there's high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. This forces the heart to function harder to pump blood to the lungs, potentially resulting in heart failure.
13. Brain Tumour : A brain tumour refers to an abnormal mass of tissue in the brain in which cells grow and multiply uncontrollably. Brain tumours can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).   
14. Third-degree burns : A third-degree burn involves all of the layers of skin and, in some cases, the fat and muscle tissue under the skin. In a third-degree burn, also known as a full-thickness burn, the burnt areas might be black, brown or white. The skin might appear leathery. Third-degree burns can damage nerves, surrounding areas experience severe pain.
15. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, in which the airways and air sacs in the lungs become damaged and inflamed, restricting airflow.
16. Motor neuron disease : Motor neuron diseases or motor neurone diseases refer to a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that particularly affect motor neurons. The motor neurons are the cells which control voluntary muscles of the body. Motor neurone disease (MND) results in the muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years.  
17. Permanent or total deafness : Permanent or total deafness, also called anacusis, is a complete or near-complete inability to hear, in which the individual can’t get the sounds even with amplification.
18. AIDS : AIDS refers to the late stage of HIV infection that happens when the body's immune system is badly damaged due to the virus. In countries like the U.S., most of the people with HIV do not get AIDS, as they take prescribed HIV medicine that helps stop the progression of the disease.  

Why are critical illnesses very serious?

Critical illnesses are considered serious due to their potential to cause significant health complications, require intensive medical treatment, and may lead to long-term disability or even death. They often involve organ dysfunction and a high risk of imminent death without treatment and can be debilitating, requiring extensive care and potentially disrupting everyday life.

Treatments for Critical Illnesses

Treatments for critical illnesses concentrate on supporting functions of organs and managing risks. This generally involves a combination of medical interventions, like medications, mechanical support, and surgical processes, suitable for the specific condition and the patient's overall health status.  In general, some of the treatments carried out for the critical illnesses are:

• Mechanical Ventilation : For respiratory failure, ventilators offer breathing support by pushing air into the lungs.
• Medications : Different medications help manage specific conditions, like antibiotics for infections, blood thinners for blood clots, and medications to enhance organ function.
• Haemodynamic Monitoring and Support : Regular monitoring of signs and interventions helps regulate blood pressure and circulation.
• Nutritional Support : Intravenous nutrition or feeding tubes offer necessary nutrients when patients are unable to eat on their own.
• Wound Care : Specialised wound care is needed for dealing with the injuries, surgical sites, or pressure ulcers.
• Infection Control : Several measures that help prevent and manage infections, like strict hygiene protocols and antimicrobial therapies, are necessary.
• Pain Management : Pain relief is very crucial for patient comfort and recovery.
• Rehabilitation : Physical and occupational therapy help patients get their strength and function again.
• Organ Support and Transplantation : During the time of organ failure, treatments such as dialysis for kidney failure or organ transplantation might be needed.
• Psychological Support : Addressing the psychological impact of critical illness is important for both patients and their families.
• CABG : CABG, or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, refers to a surgical procedure that helps treat coronary artery disease, in which narrowed or blocked arteries are bypassed with the help of the healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the human body. This enhances blood flow to the heart muscle, thus managing symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and lowering the risk of heart attack.
• Aortic Surgery : Aortic surgery involves a wide range of procedures that help treat diseases of the aorta (which is the body's largest artery). This also includes repairing or replacing damaged sections of the aorta, often because of aneurysms (weakening and bulging) or dissections (tears in the artery wall).
• Heart Valve Surgery : Heart valve surgery refers to a procedure that helps repair or replace a heart valve that is not functioning correctly because of disease or damage. This can involve either repairing the existing valve or replacing it with an artificial valve. 

What are the important considerations for the critical illness treatment?

There are some considerations in the critical illness treatments. Here are the considerations for the critical illnesses treatment.

1. Early Intervention : Treatment and management on time in a critical care unit are enhancing better outcomes.
2. Individualised Care : Treatment plans are designed for the individual patient's particular needs and medical history.
3. Multidisciplinary Approach : Effective management of critical illnesses often needs a team of healthcare professionals, like physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and others.
4. Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment : Patients in critical care need constant monitoring and adjustments to their treatment plan as their condition evolves.  

What are the different diagnostic tests that are used for diagnosing critical illnesses?

There are many diagnostic tests that are used for diagnosing critical illnesses. Here are the tests that help in the critical illness detection.

1) Laboratory Tests

• Blood tests : These help assess different parameters such as complete blood count (CBC), electrolytes, cardiac markers, glucose levels, and coagulation studies.
• Urine tests : Urine analysis is used to find out the infections or kidney problems.
• Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis : This Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis test helps measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which is important for assessing respiratory function.
• Microbiology Cultures : Samples such as blood, urine, or sputum might be cultured to find out the infectious agents.
• Biomarker analysis : Particular biomarkers can be measured which help assess organ function or disease activity (e.g., troponin for heart damage).

2) Imaging Tests

• X-rays : This test helps offer images of bones and a few soft tissues, useful for assessing fractures, lung conditions, and other problems.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scans : These scans provide detailed cross-sectional images of the body that help visualise organs, blood vessels, and soft tissues.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) : This procedure uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of soft tissues, which is useful for assessing brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal injuries.
• Ultrasound : This process uses sound waves to create images of internal organs and blood vessels, which helps assess abdominal organs, the heart, and blood flow.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans : (PET) Scans help visualise metabolic activity in the body, thus helping staging/metastasis detection for cancer and other diseases.  

3) Other Diagnostic Procedures

• Biopsy : This procedure involves taking a tissue sample for microscopic examination; thus, it helps for diagnosing various conditions, like cancer.
• Endoscopy : Endoscopy uses a flexible tube with a camera to see the internal organs, such as the oesophagus, stomach, or colon.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) : The electrocardiogram process records the electrical activity of the heart, thus helping to diagnose heart issues.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) : Electroencephalogram (EEG) records brain activity, thus helping diagnose seizures and other neurological conditions.
• Viscoelastic methods : Viscoelastic methods help rapidly assess blood clotting and help guide transfusion methods in critically ill patients.
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound : This method helps in the faster assessment of different conditions at the bedside.

Critical Illness Prevention

Some prevention methods may help an individual from critical illness. Here are some of the general tips to prevent critical illness.

1. Quit Smoking : Stopping smoking (or never starting) will help reduce the risk of serious health issues, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and lung disease, as well as premature death – which is applicable for long-time smokers.
2. Eat Healthily : Eating healthy food helps in the prevention, delaying, and managing of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. A balanced and healthy food pattern will contain a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. This will limit added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
3. Get Regular Physical Activity : Doing regular physical activity can help in the prevention, delaying, or managing of chronic diseases. So, have a target to do moderate-intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking or gardening) for a minimum of 150 minutes a week, with muscle-strengthening activities 2 days a week.
4. Limit Alcohol : The usage of alcohol over time and excessive drinking can result in high blood pressure, different cancers, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease. By not drinking too much, you can reduce these health risks.
5. Get Screened : To prevent chronic diseases or catch them early, have regular doctor and dentist visits for preventive services. You can have cancer screening tests and prediabetes and diabetes testing.
6. Take Care of Your Teeth: Oral diseases—which range from cavities and gum disease to oral cancer—cause pain and disability for millions of Americans. To help prevent these problems, drink fluoridated water, brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss daily. Visit your dentist at least yearly once, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.
7. Get Enough Sleep: Insufficient sleep has been connected to the development and poor management of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. Adults must get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep every day.
8. Know Your Family History: If you have a family history of a chronic disease, like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or osteoporosis, you may be more likely to develop that disease yourself. Share your family health history with your doctor, who can help you take steps to prevent these health conditions or catch them early.

What are the factors that influence critical illness recovery time?

Critical illness recovery is a long process, often extending from weeks to years after hospital discharge. While a few individuals might experience a quick return to baseline function, while others more often face ongoing physical, psychological, and social challenges that can last for months or even years. Here are the factors that influence Recovery Time :

1. Severity of illness: The initial severity of the critical illness and the time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) are important factors.   
2. Individual health status: Pre-existing health conditions and overall physical and mental health before critical illness can influence recovery speed and outcomes.
3. Age: Elder adults might experience slower and less complete functional recovery after critical illness, as per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
4. Type of Critical Illness: Certain illnesses might have particular long-term effects that affect recovery.
5. Psychological Factors: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are usually general after critical illness and can affect recovery.

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