Wilson Disease

Also called: Copper storage disease, Hepatolenticular degeneration

Wilson disease is a rare inherited disorder that causes your body to retain copper. Normally, your liver releases copper it doesn't need into bile, a digestive fluid. With Wilson disease, this does not happen. Copper builds up in your liver and injures liver tissue. Over time, the damage causes your liver to release the copper directly into your bloodstream. The blood carries copper all over your body. Too much copper can damage your kidneys, liver, brain and eyes.

Usually the build-up of copper starts after birth. Symptoms usually start between ages 6 and 20, but can begin as late as age 40. The most characteristic sign is a rusty brown ring around the cornea of the eye.

If you have Wilson disease, you will have to take medicine and follow a low-copper diet for the rest of your life. With early detection and proper treatment, a person with Wilson disease can enjoy normal health.

West Nile Virus

Also called: WNV

West Nile virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that first appeared in the United States in 1999. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who contract WNV usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms. Those with symptoms may have a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash or swollen lymph glands.

If West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be deadly. It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.

Older people are most at risk. There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets or barrels
• Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
• Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out

Water Pollution

We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.

Many different pollutants can harm our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. The three most common are soil, nutrients and bacteria. Rain washes soil into streams and rivers. The soil can kill tiny animals and fish eggs. It can clog the gills of fish and block light so plants die. Nutrients, often from fertilizers, cause problems in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and can turn water green. Bacteria, often from sewage spills, can pollute fresh or salt water.

Drinking Water

Every living creature needs clean and safe drinking water. How much do you need? It depends - your size, activity level and the weather all make a difference.

The water you drink is a combination of surface water and groundwater. Surface water includes rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Groundwater comes from underground. The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but drinking water quality can vary from place to place. It depends on the condition of the source water and the treatment it receives. Treatment may include adding fluoride to prevent cavities and chlorine to kill germs.

Your water supplier must give you annual reports on drinking water. The reports include where your water came from and what contaminants are in it.

Warts

Also called: Verruca

Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV. Types of warts include

• Common warts, which often appear on your fingers
• Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
• Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted disease
• Flat warts, which appear in places you shave frequently

In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you, or if they multiply, you can remove them. Chemical skin treatments usually work. If not, various freezing, surgical and laser treatments can remove warts.

Mobility Aids

Also called: Ambulation devices

Mobility aids help you walk or move from place to place if you are disabled or have an injury. They include crutches, canes, walkers, wheelchairs and motorized scooters. You may need a walker or cane if you are at risk of falling. If you need to keep your body weight off your foot, ankle or knee, you may need crutches. You may need a wheelchair or a scooter if an injury or disease has left you unable to walk.

Choosing these devices takes time and research. You should be fitted for crutches, canes and walkers. If they fit, these devices give you support, but if they don't fit, they can be uncomfortable and unsafe.

Breathing Problems

When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.

Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find out the cause.