Cancer is a group of diseases caused by many factors including smoking, poor diet, and/or family history. As you get older, the risk of cancer increases.
The four most common cancers in South Carolina are cancers of the lung, breast (female), prostate, and colon/rectum.
With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.
The word arthritis actually means "joint inflammation" and is a general term used to refer to joint pain or joint disease. It is not a single disease, but is a term used to refer to more than 100 different rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage and tendons. These diseases are characterized by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints.
Ebola is a disease that can occur anywhere from two to 21-days after exposure to an infected person or contaminated items, but the average is eight to 10 days. Symptoms include:
The course of the disease can be very severe and even fatal. We encourage you to learn the facts about Ebola by visiting the CDC's website.
Current and former smokers who meet certain guidelines may qualify for free lung cancer screening. Learn more about lung cancer screening.
In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes and vape devices among youth in South Carolina has eclipsed the use of cigarettes. Current data show that about 1 in 5 teenagers in South Carolina currently vape.
DPH’s Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Section (NPAO) leads efforts to improve policy, communication and overall collaboration between partners working on prioritizing physical activity in schools. DPH also provides technical assistance, support, and training to schools on SC FitnessGram.
For more information on prioritizing physical activity in schools, contact Erica Ayers at ayersee@dph.sc.gov.
