Chronic Illnesses
Multiple chemical sensitivity
(MCS) often results from prolonged exposure to
chemicals. A person with MCS becomes
increasingly sensitive to chemicals found in
everyday environments. Reactions can be caused
by cleaning products, pesticides, petroleum
products, vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, room
deodorizers, perfumes, and scented personal
products. Though reactions vary, nausea, rashes,
light headedness, and respiratory distress are
common to MCS.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a
progressive neurological condition with a
variety of symptoms, such as loss of strength,
numbness, vision impairments, tremors, and
depression.
The intensity of MS
symptoms can vary greatly; one day a person
might by extremely fatigued, and the next day
feel strong. Extreme temperatures can also
adversely affect a person with MS.
Muscular dystrophy is a group
of diseases in which the muscles progressively
weaken and shrivel away. The most
common type starts in childhood and initially
affects the muscles of the shoulders, hips,
calves, and thighs.
Renal disease/ failure can result
in a loss of bladder control, extreme fatigue,
pain, and toxic reactions that can cause
cognitive difficulties. Some people with renal
disease are on dialysis and have to adhere to a
rigid schedule.
Those affected by 'chronic
illnesses' may have what is termed systemic
disabilities, conditions in which there is a
dysfunction of one or more of the body's
systems: respiratory, immunological,
neurological, and/ or circulatory. Systemic
disabilities are often unstable so that
appropriate accommodations may change.
Some
common accommodations for those with systemic
disabilities include conveniently located
parking, note takers, extended time to complete
a task, modified course or workload, flexible
deadlines, relocation of a meeting or class,
early syllabus and exam modifications. Some
examples of chronic illness causing systemic
illnesses are:
Cancer is a
malignant growth that can effect any part of the
body. Treatment can be time consuming, painful,
and sometimes result in permanent
disability.
Diabetes mellitus
causes a person to lose the ability to regulate
blood sugar. People with diabetes often need to
follow a strict diet and may require insulin
injections. During a diabetic reaction, a person
may experience confusion, sudden personality
changes, or loss of consciousness. In extreme
cases, diabetes can also cause vision loss,
cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, stroke,
or necessitate the amputation of
limbs.
Epilepsy/ seizure
disorder causes a person to experience a loss of
consciousness. Episodes, or seizures, vary from
short absence or "grave petite" mal
acute" seizures, to the less common grave
"grand mal acute." Seizures may be
controlled by medications and are usually not
emergency situations.
Epstein Barr virus/
chronic fatigue syndrome/ fibromyalgia are auto
immune disorders which cause extreme fatigue,
loss of appetite, and depression. Physical or
emotional stress may adversely affect a person
with any of these conditions.
Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV+), which causes AIDS, inhibits
one's ability to fight off illness and
infections. Symptoms vary greatly. People with
HIV or AIDS are often stigmatized.
Lyme's disease is a
multisystemic condition which can cause
paralysis, fatigue, fever, dermatitis, sleeping
problems, memory dysfunction, cognitive
difficulties, and depression. It is caused by
the bite of a tick.
Lupus erythematosis
can cause inflammatory lesions, neurological
problems, extreme fatigue, persistent flu-like
symptoms, impaired cognitive ability, connective
tissue damage, and mobility
impairments. |
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