Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease and is considered to be the most common of all these STD’s. Found in vaginal fluids and semen, it is a bacterial infection that infects approximately one in ten sexually active young people.

This disease is spread from one person to another via all types of sexual activity and can survive inside the cells of the urethra, cervix, rectum and on some occasions in the eyes and throat. Chlamydia can also be transferred from a pregnant mother to her baby. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot catch the disease from activities such as hugging, kissing, toilet seats, sharing of towels, plates, or cups.

The effects of Chlamydia in Women

There are no obvious symptoms and it is often described as the “silent infection” because of this. Women who catch Chlamydia may notice bleeding between periods, unusual vaginal discharge or lower abdominal pain. Men could notice a discharge from the tip of their penis, painful testicles or pain when urinating.

If Chlamydia is suspected in an individual, its important get tested quickly to diagnose the infection. Once diagnosed, the condition is easily treatable with antibiotics. There has been an influx of Chlamydia testing kits onto the market, but as yet these are still not accurate enough, so a medical diagnosis is vital.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves located in the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to issues with muscle control, balance and vision. It can also affect memory as well as associated mood swings and emotions.

MS sufferers can find that their symptoms are different from other sufferers, while also varying from day to day. Sufferers often find that the symptoms can get worse with exercise or heat. In general though, the most common symptoms of MS are problems with the eyes (blurring and double vision); muscle weakness or stiffness; fatigue; loss of coordination; bowel and bladder issues; tingling or numbness of the skin; general pain; anxiety and depression; difficulty swallowing and talking; and sexual problems. Although these may appear to be many symptoms, a sufferer is highly unlikely to develop all of them and certainly not at the same time.

There are four kinds of MS: benign MS, relapsing-remitting MS, secondary progressive MS and primary progressive MS. The exact reasons that an individual contracts the condition are not fully understood at this present moment in time, although several different factors are thought to be implicated. Although it is not a hereditary condition, having specific genes may make a person more susceptible to it. There could also be some environmental factors involved – bacteria or viruses may trigger the immune system to attack its own body. Also, the place of residence may be an issue. It is known, for example, that MS is more common in countries further from the equatorial regions.

Although there are treatments available for the symptoms of MS, there isn’t actually a cure at present.

Multiple Sclerosis

Heart attacks occur when heart muscles do not receive enough oxygen rich blood and therefore start to die. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but usually occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the blood vessels leading to the heart. If this clot gets large enough it can block the blood supply to the organ.

When an individual suffers a heart attack, the symptoms can include a plethora of conditions. These include coughing, chest pain ranging from a mild discomfort to a crushing pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, ashen colored face (a gray appearance), nausea, vomiting and clammy and sweaty. Pain is usually felt in the chest initially, but can then spread to the arms, wrist, neck, jaw and ears. Less common is pain in the shoulder blades, the abdomen and the back.

Some of the main causes of heart attacks include age (this is thought to be the largest contributing factor, and men over 45 and women over 55 years of age see their risk rise dramatically); angina; high cholesterol levels; diabetes; diet; genetic makeup (hereditary); blood pressure; heart surgery; obesity; physical inactivity; and smoking.

Heart Attack

The quicker a heart attack victim is treated, the more successful their treatment tends to be. Some treatments that can be administered during a heart attack are CPR, manual chest compression, use of a defibrillator, a 300mg dose of aspirin, and sometimes, morphine.