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Chronic Illness FAQ

What is a chronic illness?
A chronic illness is any health challenge or diagnosis that does not go away with treatment. For example, the flu or a cold is not a chronic illness because both those illnesses will dissipate and go away after treatments. A chronic illness is managed, not cured. These diseases/illnesses will be present for the duration of the person's life. 

What is POTS? 
POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Because POTS is defined as a syndrome, it impacts nearly all body systems. The "Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia" part means that when the person stands up their heart rate dramatically increases and their blood pressure drops. This results in dizziness and/or fainting. These symptoms stem from low blood volume and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. This mean that the part of their brain that controls all the involuntary systems (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, digestion, etc) is not working properly.  Many also experience digestive issues, fatigue, chronic pain, and other debilitating symptoms as a result of POTS. 
POTS has no cure. Many are treated with a high salt diet to increase blood volume, increased fluids, and a gentle exercise regimen. 

What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is diagnosed when a person has two or more unprovoked seizures. A seizure is a event of abnormal brain activity which impacts behavior, motor control, or function for a brief period of time. Some seizures cause a person to become unconscious, fall, and convulse. These are call generalized (Gran Mal) seizures. Other types of seizures (partial seizures) do not cause the person to fall unconscious, but they do cause impairment of senses, inability to communicate, strange movements or sounds, alteration of consciousness, and other symptoms. Seizures can vary from person to person, and it is imperative that a person experiencing seizures be seen by a physician. 
Many seizures can be prevented and treated with medications called AEDs (Anti-Epileptic Drugs). These medicines help to regulate the brain activity to keep it in-sync and keep the person from experiencing frequent seizure episodes. 

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? 
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis which causes joint breakdown. It is believed this disorder is an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system attacks itself from the inside out- as opposed to only attacking the bad invaders (like the flu) in the body. RA causes joint swelling, redness, and pain. Most people experience the symptoms in small joints such as feet, toes, hands and fingers. This disorder is often progressive, which means that it will get worse over time. There is currently no cure, but there are treatments available to help slow the inflammatory process which causes the pain and symptoms. 

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