Hepatitis C is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for causing this disease. Although it affects the liver initially, it gradually produces symptoms all over the body. An acute case can last for a few weeks, but a chronic one can last a lifetime. Some rare symptoms associated with hepatitis C may become prominent only in the chronic stage. Seek necessary medical intervention if these symptoms occur: Severe abdominal pain Hepatitis C reduces the amount of bile produced by the liver. This makes it tough to digest fatty foods as bile is essential to dissolve matter. This disrupts the regulation of fluid in the cells. Matter begins to accumulate in the stomach, which can cause intense stomach pain for some people. As bile is stored in the gallbladder, severe pain can occur if it swells up due to the HCV. This occurs in the acute stage and is a rare symptom of hepatitis C. You might also feel burning or tingling sensations in the stomach. Disorientation The HCV may prevent the liver from completely filtering out toxins from the blood. This can affect the central nervous system and reduce one’s ability to concentrate on things.

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is characterized as blood clots in veins found in one or more parts of the body. It may be caused due to a medical condition or when your body is immobile for a long time, for instance, a long duration of bed rest after surgery. Commonly affecting the legs, DVT shows symptoms like swollen legs, discolored skin, and a warm sensation in the affected area. Read on to find out the risk factors of DVT. Age The chances of DVT increase with age, making people over 50 highly susceptible to DVT. Additionally, the risk factor increases if they already have a history of underlying conditions. Family history Inheriting blood-clotting disorder is the most common risk factor of DVT. If an immediate family member has or had DVT, chances of being affected by it are higher. Pregnancy The increased pressure on the veins of the pelvis, thighs, and lower legs during pregnancy increases the risk of DVT. During pregnancy, blood-clotting protein levels increase, and anti-clotting proteins decrease in the body. Catheter insertion Patients who have had peripherally inserted central catheters face an additional risk factor of DVT. Many studies claim that the bigger the size of the catheter, the higher the risk of DVT.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening lung disease where the pulmonary arteries become narrow and get blocked. This increases blood pressure in the lungs, which causes the heart to work harder to pump out blood through narrow arteries, weakening heart muscles gradually and causing heart failure. Anyone can get diagnosed with PAH, but certain risk factors make some people more susceptible to it. Here are six risk factors to look out for. High altitude High altitude can affect people due to the low amount of oxygen that is present in the air. Living at or over 2500 meters, for several years, can cause high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). Regularly traveling to high altitude areas can also be dangerous. These are risk factors that can increase pressure in the arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs. Sleep apnea Sleep apnea is the loss of oxygen in the blood while a person sleeps. A research study from the American College of Chest Physicians showed that 17 to 53 percent of those who have sleep apnea also get pulmonary hypertension. If a sleep apnea lasts for long, it can cause a dramatic loss of oxygen in the bloodstream. This increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, producing symptoms of PAH.

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder in which blood doesn’t clot properly, which leads to excessive bleeding following a minor injury or major surgery. Blood contains substances known as clotting factors, which can curb bleeding in the event of an injury. In hemophilia patients, the levels of this factor are particularly low. In most cases, hemophilia is an inherited disease. However, there are a few other risk factors that are associated with the condition, as listed below: Gene mutation Coagulation factor VIII—a protein that is responsible for controlling bleeding—is present in the F8 gene; while the F9 gene carries instructions to produce coagulation factor IX. Mutations in the F8 gene cause hemophilia A, while changes in the F9 gene are responsible for hemophilia B. Abnormal coagulation factors After an injury or surgery, the sealing of damaged blood vessels and prevention of excessive blood loss is done through blood clots. Both coagulation factors work together in the blood-clotting process. Patients with hemophilia are born with mutations in their F8 or F9 genes, hence carrying abnormalities and low quantities of coagulation factors VIII or XI. Missing protein Changed or missing factors are incapable of forming blood clots, as a result of which the body cannot heal on its own in case of an injury.

Anemia is a blood disorder where the body fails to produce and maintain a healthy amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen from our lungs to different cells of the body. A lack of hemoglobin leads to a lack of oxygen reaching our cells and can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, elevated heartbeat, and pale skin. Here is a list of some rare types of anemia that can either be hereditary or acquired. Aplastic (or Hypoplastic) Anemia In aplastic or hypoplastic anemia, stem cells are damaged and dysfunctional and can no longer produce new blood cells. Stem cells are present in the bone marrow and are responsible for producing new blood cells. This condition could either be hereditary or be acquired over a period of time. Hereditary aplastic anemia is rare, and the acquired condition can sometimes be temporary. Sideroblastic Anemia In this particular condition, the body is incapable of creating hemoglobin from iron. The unused iron continues to build and accumulate inside the body in the form of abnormal red blood cells called sideroblasts. This condition can either be acquired due to exposure to certain drugs or can be due to an inherited genetic mutation.