For Patients

Asthma is a chronic lung condition affecting about 20 million people in the U.S. People with asthma have very sensitive airways and certain triggers cause the airways to become inflamed and swollen. This inflammation can lead to coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulty. Asthma symptoms can range from a mild nuisance to life-threatening emergencies. There is no cure for asthma, but medication and other treatments can help keep symptoms under control.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the digestive track. The symptoms often cycle between mild and severe, and may include loose stools, stomach pain and cramping, weight loss, rectal bleeding and ulcers.  Over half a million Americans are living with Crohn's disease. Doctors believe that Crohn's disease can be caused by both family genetics and environmental factors like germs and cigarette smoking. There is no cure for Crohn's disease but the right treatment plan can help reduce inflammation and keep symptoms under control.

Growth Hormone is a naturally occurring amino acid peptide that helps your body grow and helps your body keep the right amount of muscle and bone. Secretion of growth hormone is greatest during childhood and decreases with age. There are many medical conditions that result from lack of growth hormone, some being very serious. Many of these conditions can be treated with a manufactured growth hormone called somatropin.

Hepatitis C virus infects the liver, which results in inflammation (swelling) of the liver.  Some people with Hepatitis C never experience serious complications, but up to 85% of those infected will develop chronic Hepatitis C.  After years of infection, the liver often becomes scarred (know as cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure and cancer in some patients. Over 3 million people in the U.S. are battling Hepatitis C with a high number of Baby Boomers (born 1945 - 1965) who have contracted the virus. There are medications that help fight the infection and prevent complications from Hepatitis C, but they can be challenging to use.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. Without medication, it may take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.

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A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system sensory (i.e., touch, taste, smell) and motor (i.e., walking) functions. The condition becomes progressively worse over time if not effectively treated. There are several types of MS, but about 85% of those affected have Relapsing-Remitting MS. This means patients experience unpredictable, sudden attacks, followed by periods without symptoms getting worse. Symptoms of MS vary from mild symptoms, like numbness or fatigue to severe symptoms, like loss of vision or difficulty walking. There are about 400,000 people in the U.S. living with MS, with three times more women than men affected. The condition is typically diagnosed anywhere from age 20 to age 50. Although there is no cure, medications, can help reduce inflammation and lengthen periods between attacks.

Oncology is the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of cancer. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. There are hundreds of types of cancer, commonly named according to the organ or tissue where the cancer develops. There are an estimated 1.7 million new cases of cancer in the United States in 2012. The most common are lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Cancer can also spread or metastasize to other areas of the body.

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurring autoimmune condition affecting the skin. The condition causes rapid growth of skin cells resulting in thick, dry, discolored patches of skin. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the condition. Plaques commonly form over knees and elbows, but can affect any area of the body.  Severity varies from person to person and can improve or worsen over time.  For some it is just an annoyance, and for others it can be painful, embarrassing and debilitating. There are over 7 million people living with psoriasis. While there is no cure, there are several medications meant to slow down the production of skin cells and reduce inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint damage and pain. With RA, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing swelling that results in chronic pain, loss of function and deformed joints. RA most often affects the smaller joints in the hands and feet, which can make everyday tasks difficult to perform. Over 1 million adult Americans are living with RA and women are two- to three-times more likely to be diagnosed. While there is no cure for RA, there are many medications that can reduce the pain and inflammation of joints, and some of these medications may help slow the progression of the disease.

Additional rheumatic conditions include, but are not limited to: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Uveitis. 

 

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores, or ulcers. This condition is the result of your immune system’s overactive response