Today, one in four U.S. adults lives with some type of disability. A disability can significantly alter a person’s quality of life, leading to costly treatments and an inability to work or carry out activities of daily living.
You aren’t alone if you or a loved one is experiencing this. Here are the top 10 disabilities that citizens around the U.S. navigate.
1. Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Disorders
In terms of medical conditions that qualify for long-term disability, the Social Security Administration indicates that 25% of Americans receiving disability benefits struggle with disorders affecting the bones, joints, and muscles and tissues.
This causes pain, stiffness, swelling, weakness, and fatigue in the musculoskeletal system.
For example, conditions like this include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Fibromyalgia
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
While these conditions can be inherited, many also come about due to aging, injuries, and even the use of certain medications.
2. Depressive, Bipolar, and Related Mood Disorders
Mood disorders cause persistent changes in everyday mood, like irritability, extreme sadness, or euphoric mood elevation.
Some examples include:
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Substance/medication-induced mood disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Although these conditions do not necessarily act as signs that you will be approved for disability, having a disorder in this category is the second most common reason people receive benefits.
3. Intellectual Disability
Those with intellectual disability experience cognitive limitations (including reasoning and language development) and adaptive skills.
For example, some intellectual conditions include:
- Williams syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Phenylkenonuria
Intellectual disorders can have several causes, including medical malpractice, genetic mutations, infections, exposure to product toxins, or other health conditions.
4. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs
These conditions affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and organs that enable the five senses (the eyes, ears, hands, nose, and tongue).
They may include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
- Epilepsy
Symptoms can range from numbness and tingling to headaches, lack of coordination, seizures, and breathing difficulties.
5. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
These disorders cause a loss of touch with reality.
Some examples of psychotic disorders include:
- Delusional disorder
- Brief psychotic disorder
- Schizoaffective disorder
Patients may experience hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, emotional withdrawal, and disrupted behavior.
6. Diseases of the Circulatory System
Circulatory system diseases affect the heart and blood vessels.
A few examples include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmia
- Heart failure
- Stroke
These diseases can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, tingling, or swelling of the extremities.
7. Neurocognitive Disorders
Neurocognitive disorders affect your memory, attention, language, and problem-solving.
This category includes:
- Huntington’s disease
- Dementia
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Several factors, including brain injuries, stroke, nervous system diseases, and certain medications, can cause them.
8. Neoplasms
Neoplasms are characterized by abnormal tissue growth in any part of the body.
These include conditions like:
- Cancer
- Lipomas
- Uterine fibroids
Neoplasms arise due to uncontrolled cell division stemming from genetic mutation, carcinogen exposure, viral infections, or hormonal imbalance.
9. Diseases of the Respiratory System
Such conditions affect the lungs and other respiratory organs and can cause shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, and fatigue.
Some examples include:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Genetic, environmental, and infectious factors may cause these conditions.
10. Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases
These diseases affect the body’s hormonal and metabolic processes.
Some examples include:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypo/hyperthyroidism
- Vitamin deficiencies
They may be a side effect of an autoimmune condition or be caused by tumors, genetic factors, pituitary problems, or malnutrition.
What to Do if Someone Else Caused Your Disability
While many disabilities result from genetics, illness, or aging, some stem from preventable accidents or harmful exposures. In these cases, another person or company’s negligence may be to blame.
If your disability was caused by a car accident, medical error, unsafe working conditions, or another negligent act, you may be entitled to compensation.
A personal injury lawyer can investigate your case, identify liability, and pursue damages for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Contact the Anchorage Personal Injury Attorneys at Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Living with a disability can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone, especially if someone else’s negligence caused your condition. Seeking legal guidance can help you understand your rights and pursue the financial support you need.
For more information, please contact Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We have two locations in Alaska, including Anchorage and Eagle River.
Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers – Anchorage
2525 Gambell St #410,
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 999-999
Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers – Eagle River
13135 Old Glenn Hwy, Suite 101
Eagle River, AK 99577
(907) 802-4097
