What is an incurable disease, as we frequently hear the term used? What are the causes and symptoms of an incurable disease? What should we do about it? The answer is in the following article.
Actually, a terminal illness is a term used to describe any disease or condition that cannot be treated and is likely to result in the patient's death, not a disease in and of itself. It is also referred to as a terminal illness. What causes illnesses that are terminal? incurable?
Causes of incurable disease
A disease does not always have to be incurable; the term "incurable disease" is a general one that can refer to a wide range of illnesses and medical diagnoses. For instance, some cancers can be treated, but in many other cases, they are incurable and progress to the end stage. other.
As for some other illnesses that are known to have no cure, we can refer to them as incurable diseases from the moment they manifest, such as AIDS and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As a result, there is no one constant factor that causes all incurable illnesses.
But in general, the diseases that are the causes of incurable disease may include the following:
- The advanced and final stages of aging or debility.
- Dementia .
- Cancer.
- Stroke and coma.
- AIDS, which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Lung and liver diseases.
- Neurological diseases, such as: Parkinson 's disease.
Symptoms of incurable disease
The symptoms of an incurable disease vary according to its type, but in general, fatigue is the most common symptom in all incurable diseases and at the end of life. The following are possible additional signs of an incurable illness:
- Loss of appetite and fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- constipation .
- delirium, hallucinations;
- Shortness of breath.
- shock, fear, anger, and perhaps denial are all common emotions.
- Sadness, resentment, hopelessness, and frustration are all experienced.
- a sense of loneliness despite the patient's family being nearby.
How is terminal disease dealt with?
The doctor may refer the patient to a psychiatrist or to one of the following specialties since the incurable disease is not a condition that can be cured.
1. Palliative care
It is a field of medicine that focuses on managing and easing physical symptoms as well as offering emotional support to patients who are terminally or seriously ill in order to improve their quality of life.
This treatment can start at any point during the progression of the illness and can be combined with other therapies, such as chemotherapy in the case of cancer.
All of the aforementioned symptoms of an incurable disease, including vomiting, nausea, constipation, pain, bowel and bladder issues, wasting, depression, sleep issues, and others, can be treated and dealt with through palliative care.
2. Hospice care
It is also known as hospice care, and it starts when the doctor says the patient has six months or less to live. Its goal is to comfort and support the elderly in their homes or medical facilities, and it aims to do the following:
- assisting the patient to live comfortably in his final days.
- assisting the patient and his family in adjusting to changes that develop over time and the condition's deterioration.
This type of care is used in a variety of situations, such as when chemotherapy is ineffective against the cancer and patients want to control their symptoms, improve their quality of life, or when the treatment is burdensome and has no positive effects.