Asthma is the inflammation and constriction of bronchial tubes due to the excessive mucus produced by airways and contraction of bronchial walls. The exact cause of asthma is usually unknown, however, asthma is often triggered by irritants and allergens.

The symptoms of this disease vary; it is life threatening in serious cases. Common symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain.

• Frequent exposure to air pollutants, second-hand smoke and irritants that appeared in certain occupations
• A family history of asthma
• Overweight
• Recurrent infections of respiratory system during early age

Although it is not curable, medical treatment can control the symptoms effectively. Your doctor will prescribe medications depending on the seriousness and nature of the asthma. Typical medicines are mainly classified into medications for long-term control, quick-relief medications, and medications for allergy relief.

• To prevent chronic damage to lung tissues, seek medical advice immediately if you have been coughing for several days and/or have other symptoms of asthma. Early treatment is crucial for controlling the symptoms of the disease.
• If you have been diagnosed with asthma, remember to have regular check-up with your doctor in order to monitor the condition effectively and prevent the worsening of the disease.
• If the prescribed medicine cannot relieve your symptoms, do not adjust the dosage of your medication. Rather, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.
• Seek for emergency assistance if your asthma attack cannot be managed by quick-relief medicine. Ask for your doctor's advice on how to handle severe asthma attacks and when you should call for emergency help.

Cancer is a type of disease related to the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells, which causes damage to normal cells and spreads through various parts of the body. The emergence of abnormal cells is usually due to DNA mutations. Although the disease can be fatal, the survival rate of patients has been improving due to the invention of new treatments and medications.

Symptoms of the disease vary with the different types of cancer. Some of the typical symptoms include pain, changes of weight, fever, tiredness, difficulty with swallowing and relentless coughing.

• Over the age of 55
• A family history of cancer
• Some chronic diseases such as ulcerative colitis
• Exposure to certain chemicals
• Firsthand and secondhand smoking
• Excessive alcohol
• Too much exposure to sunlight

The doctor will prescribe the therapy depending on the condition of the patients. There are various treatments including surgery, drug therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, etc.

• If you suspect you are suffering from cancer with typical symptoms or if you are at high risk, consult with your doctor and arrange for suitable medical tests and check up.

COPD is a common disease that leads to obstruction of the lung. It can be caused by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthmatic bronchitis.

It is difficult to detect the disease in an early stage because the symptoms may only appear after the lung tissues have been damaged to a certain extent. Common symptoms include prolonged coughing, tightness of the chest, increased production of mucus, shortness of breath and recurrent respiratory infections, etc.

• Over 40 years old
• Both firsthand and second-hand smokers
• Genetic disorder
• Frequent exposure to chemicals and dusts

The doctor will prescribe medications including bronchodilators, antibiotics and inhaled steroids based on the symptoms. Pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy are common treatments used to supplement medications. The medical industry is now working on new medications in order to provide a more effective treatment for patients.

In serious cases, surgery such as lung transplant and lung volume reduction may be needed.

• If you are a smoker and have symptoms of COPD, consult your doctor and arrange for check-up.
• If you are diagnosed with emphysema, asthmatic bronchitis or chronic bronchitis with symptoms of COPD, seek for your doctor's advice.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. When your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, oxygen-rich blood can't reach your heart muscle. This can cause angina or a heart attack.

The common symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) are angina and shortness of breath.

Angina is chest pain that occurs when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. Your chest, shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back may suffer from pressure or a squeezing pain. This pain tends to get worse with activity and go away when you rest. Emotional stress can cause the pain as well.

Shortness of breath happens if your heart can't pump enough blood throughout your body. Fluid builds up in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

The symptoms may get more severe as the build up of plaque continues to narrow the coronary arteries. However, some people may have no signs. It may not be diagnosed until he or she has a heart attack.

• Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels
• High blood pressure
• Smoker
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Family history of early heart disease

If you've been diagnosed with CAD, you can control the disease with lifestyle changes and medicines. Lifestyle changes, such as having a heart healthy eating diet, quitting smoking, controlling a healthy weight, and maintaining a happy life may help in preventing and treating the disease.

• Try to control your risk factors and do more exercises can help prevent CAD.
• Make sure to tell your family doctor if you or your family members have CAD.

Diabetes is associated with the dysfunction of utilizing food as energy in the body. Type 1 diabetes is related to the inability in producing insulin while type 2 diabetes is caused by the cell resistance towards insulin. Both types of diabetes will lead to high glucose level.

Typical symptoms of diabetes include unusual hunger, frequent thirst and urination and loss of weight, etc. For type 2 diabetes, the healing ability may also be affected. If untreated, diabetes may cause severe diseases such as kidney failure.

Type 1 Diabetes

A family history of type 1 diabetes may increase the risk of having this disease, but the risk factor is usually unclear.

Type 2 Diabetes

Although the exact factors are unknown, certain factors may contribute to the cause of type 2 diabetes. Typical risk factors include:

• A family history of type 2 diabetes
• Over the age of 45
• Lack of exercise
• Previous diagnosed with gestational diabetes
• Prediabetes (blood sugar level higher than normal but not yet classified as diabetes)

Since diabetes is a chronic disease, it is necessary to have a long-term treatment and follow the instructions of the doctor. In order to maintain the blood glucose in a normal level, remember to monitor the blood glucose regularly, do more exercise, have a balanced and healthy diet and take medicine.

• If you have symptoms of diabetes, seek for medical advice in order to treat the disease in an early stage.
• For people who have diagnosed with diabetes, it is necessary to monitor the blood glucose level regularly and have physical examination especially on foot and eye.

Blood pressure is the measure of the blood amount of heart pumps and amount of resistance of blood flow in arteries. If undetected, long-term hypertension can cause serious diseases such as heart attack and stroke. In most cases, the cause is unknown. However, hypertension may be caused by certain drugs, adrenal gland tumours, heart disease and kidney abnormalities.

Symptoms usually appear when the condition has already become severe. However, some people may have symptoms including dizziness and headaches in an early stage.

• A family history of hypertension
• Middle age
• Certain race
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet (too little potassium, too much salt and too little vitamin D)
• Lack of exercise
• Some diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol
• Stress

There are many medicines for high blood pressure and your doctor will prescribe the drugs according to your condition. Typical medications include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, rennin inhibitors and thiazide diuretics, etc. In addition to the medicines, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to keep the blood pressure under control.

• Remember to have regular checking on your blood pressure every two years from the age of 20 even if you do not have hypertension.
• Frequent readings would be necessary if you are suffering from hypertension.

Lipid disorder is described as the condition of high blood cholesterol and triglycerides. It is caused by unhealthy lifestyles such as excessive alcohol, too much intake of fat and diseases including diabetes, etc. Lipid disorder may lead to stroke and heart diseases.

It is difficult to detect the onset of lipid disorder without doing a blood test.

• A family history of heart disease
• High blood Pressure
• Unhealthy diet
• Diabetes

If being diagnosed with lipid disorder, you should adopt a healthy lifestyle as instructed by your doctor. In cases that cannot be controlled by the adjustment of lifestyle, doctors will prescribe medications such as statins.

• It is important to have regular blood test on cholesterol every 5 years from the age of 20.
• To prevent the disorder, you should maintain a healthy diet and have regular exercise.

Stroke is caused by the interruption or drastic reduction of blood supply in your brain. The supply of oxygen and nutrients will also be hindered and thus brain cells will die in a short period of time.

Typical symptoms include severe headache, blurred vision, walking and speaking problems, and one side of body appears to be weak or even paralyzed, etc.

• Over the age of 55
• Lipid disorder
• Smoking
• A family history of stroke or heart attack
• Birth control pills
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Obesity

Early treatment could minimize the complications of stroke; the doctor will prescribe the therapy depending on the condition of the patients. Common treatments include drug therapy (eg aspirin) and surgery. Rehabilitation is also important for stroke patients since the disease often affects the functioning of part of the body.

• Since stroke requires immediate treatment, seek for emergency help as soon as possible when symptoms appear.