Most common but also most preventable

STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are pretty self-explanatory. They are transferred from one person to another through sexual activity. There are 25 different types of STDs, the most common are: Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Herpes Simple Virus, HPV, Hepatitis B, and HIVV/AIDS. Each year, 19 million Americans are infected with an STD. In year 2001, 9.1 million young people, ages 15-24, were infected. Men and women are equally susceptible, but the effects are more severe in women. Serious health problems can harm the baby of a pregnant woman with an STD. For the bacterial or parasitic STDs, medications are able to treat them. But if the STD is a virus, there are no cures. Condoms can be used to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases, but the most efficient prevention that is 100% effective is not having sex at all.

Teen statistics in America:

1.     More than half of teens are virgins until the age of 17.

2.     At age 15, 25% of females and less than 30% of males have engaged in sexual intercourse.

3.     66% of 18 year old females and 68% of 18 year of males have had sex.

4.     Close to one million women under the age of 20 become pregnant each year. That is about 2800 girls getting pregnant every day.

5.     About 4 in 10 woman get pregnant at least once before they turn 20.

6.     1 in 4 teens who are sexually active are infected by an STD every year.

"Statistics on Teens"
http://www.soundvision.com/info/teens/stat.asp

First hand experience: Kidney stones

As a young adult, I never imagined anything would go wrong with my health. I am active, I eat fairly healthy, and I'm still young. Unfortunately, I was proven wrong one night when I awoke at 3am with sharp pains in my side and lower back. My mom took me took the hospital, which I have never been before, and I was taken back to get tests done. The doctor came in, after what seemed like hours, to explain to me that I had kidney stones. I was shocked because I thought that only happened to old people. Since I was leaving for college in less than a month, the doctor thought it would be a good idea for me to get my stones removed. So 2 weeks after I found out I had the stones, I got an operation called ureteroscopy and had the stones removed. Now I know this blog is meant to inform people about medical conditions and not about my personal life, but I wanted to let young people know that they are at risk for illnesses, diseases, and medical conditions even at a young age. I also want to let people who have had kidney stones know that I can empathize and relate.

Kidney stones are a hard material, like a stone, made up of crystals from urine. Most kidney stones are due to an excess in calcium. Kidney stones are normally found in the kidney (obviously) but sometimes they can be found in the urinary tract. They are caused by dehydration, which usually occurs when the body is not replenished with liquids after strenuous exercise, from holding your pee for too long, or from an infection in the urinary tract. Often, kidney stones can be hereditary and white males are the most susceptible. A few symptoms that are caused by kidney stones are pain in the lower back or side (often compared to child labor), blood in urine, fever, vomiting, or burning when urinating. The most common way to get rid of kidney stones are to pass them, or pee them out. There are also surgical ways like shock waves, tunnel surgery, or using a ureteroscope. Kidney stones can help be prevented by drinking LOTS of water and limiting your amount of caffeine intake.

"Kidney Stones in Adults"
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/

Keeping young adults aware and educated on medical conditions.

Not many people are aware of the medical conditions that they are exposed to, so I created this blog that is intended to inform people about many different medical conditions and diseases. Since many people have been affected by a medical condition, either personally or someone they care about, it is important for them to be educated on it. My blog will be focusing on all aspects of these conditions including severity, symptoms, treatments, side effects, and the type of person that is commonly affected by it. I hope this blog will help young people become aware and informed on medical conditions that they may encounter.