Introduction
If you’ve ever walked down the street, chances are you’ve already caught one or more of these conditions.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the lining of your nose. It’s caused by an allergic reaction to pollen, dust mites, mold, pets or other allergens.
Symptoms include sneezing, itchy nose and runny nose. You may also have congestion in your chest that makes it hard for you to breathe through your nose.
Hemifacial Spasm
Hemifacial spasm, or HFS, is a rare neurological disorder that causes repeated twitching of the facial muscles on one side of your face. The twitching can be random or intermittent and may cause your mouth to snap shut involuntarily. It’s thought to be caused by an injury or stroke in the part of your brain responsible for controlling facial movement. Typically, people who have HFS will experience it once but then it goes away without treatment. But if HFS persists after six months, it can become chronic—and that’s when things get serious.
The most common symptoms include:
- involuntary movements of the jaw (e.g., opening wide)
- involuntary eye movement (e.g., blinking rapidly)
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is a genetically inherited neurodegenerative disorder that causes involuntary movements and cognitive decline. The symptoms, which typically begin in middle age, are progressive and can last for many years. While there is no cure for Huntington’s disease, some medications may help control the involuntary movements and reduce depression or anxiety.
Causes
The exact cause of Huntington’s disease is unknown. It’s believed to be caused by a faulty gene on chromosome 4 that affects the way nerve cells work together within the brain. Normally each nerve cell makes connections with other nerve cells through tiny branches called dendrites; this allows information to travel between them so they can work together as one unit to send messages throughout your body (for example, when you move your arm). In people with Huntington’s disease these connections break down over time because their brains do not produce enough of a substance called GABA that acts as an “inhibitory transmitter” in the brain – meaning it keeps things from happening too quickly inside us! So instead everything starts firing off at once causing unwanted movement at inappropriate times such as while driving or sitting still during church services etcetera ad nauseum.”
Hypochondriasis
Hypochondriasis is a disorder in which a person experiences excessive anxiety about having a serious illness. While it may seem like hypochondriasis can only be treated by medical professionals, it’s actually not a mental illness at all—it’s considered to be a medical condition that can be treated by your regular doctor.
Often people with hypochondriasis have histories of other psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders. The good news is that there are treatments out there for this common condition; if you think you might suffer from this disorder and want more information, talk to your primary care physician.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects your joints and causes inflammation. It can be either genetic or caused by an infection or other condition, but the main symptoms are pain and stiffness in your joints.
Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
You never know what you will catch from the street
Whether you’re walking down the street, riding in a taxi or plane, or just eating at a restaurant, there are plenty of ways to get sick.
You can get sick from touching your face and then going home. You can get sick from walking into any public place and breathing in the air (which contains germs). And you definitely don’t want to go anywhere near the water—it’s full of bacteria that will make you sick if swallowed.
While catching an infection from another person is rarer than getting infected by an animal or insect bite, it does happen: In fact, 20 percent of Americans have been infected with Norovirus at least once in their lives! The good news is that most people recover quickly without treatment; however, some infections can be life-threatening if not treated promptly with antibiotics or other medications (including vaccines).
Conclusion
We hope that you have learned about some of the diseases that can be caught from walking down the street. These are just a few of the many diseases out there, so it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms and seek treatment immediately if any arise.