Last Updated on April 9, 2020
3. Hepatitis C
This viral infection causes liver problems and is the main cause of liver-related deaths in the United States of America. Hepatitis C symptoms involve fatigue, bleeding and bruising easily, loss of appetite, discoloration of the skin and eyes (yellow color), skin itchiness, dark-colored urine, weight loss, etc.
Roughly 70% of people infected with hepatitis C are unaware that they carry the virus. That’s because the incubation period of the virus ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months, and the vast majority of people stay asymptomatic for a long time.
Medical treatment for this condition improved a lot in recent years – it is now curable with an oral medication that every patient can take without restrictions.
4. Chronic kidney disease
This chronic disease occurs when the kidney becomes permanently damaged and can no longer properly filtrate the waste from the bloodstream and keep the body chemically balanced. Risk factors include age, hypertension, diabetes, and family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
Many people don’t know they have this disorder because most medical professionals still are not aware of how common it is.
According to data from official health entities, about 10 to 20 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease. Moreover, the diagnostic test is not as effective as it should be – so it might remain undiagnosed until kidney function is almost completely diminished.
5. Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is a common disease that affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, gas, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and constipation. It turns out to be a mild condition in the vast majority of cases. In fact, that’s why doctors usually miss it – since the symptoms are mild and appear only once in a while, patients don’t complain.
It is a chronic condition that can be controlled with changes in diet and lifestyle. It is worth mentioning that irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t damage the tissue of the intestine nor does it increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
6. Lupus
Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease. Lupus symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain, a rash of the cheeks and nose, photosensitivity, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, confusion (and even memory loss), and headaches.
