Definitions of Some Critical Illnesses

The following are generic descriptions of some critical illnesses. Definitions used by different product providers may vary. Precise definitions may be found in the Key Features Document.

Alzheimer’s Disease:

Unknown cause. There is no curative treatment and as the disease progresses the sufferer becomes severely disabled.

Angioplasty:

When the coronary arteries (those feeding the heart muscle) become blocked there are a number of procedures that can be performed to alleviate the symptoms. Angioplasty is one where a catheter (a flexible tube) is inserted into the arteries via a vein in the groin. A balloon is then passed through the catheter and inflated at the site of the blockage, squashing the atheroma (material blocking the artery) into the arterial wall thereby opening the artery. This procedure does not require a general anaesthetic and can be repeated if the artery blocks again. Other procedures such as atherectomy (where the atheroma blocking the artery is scraped out) and laser therapy (where the blockage is obliterated using a laser beam) may be used.

Aorta Surgery:

The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart around the body. The wall of the aorta has to be very strong and elastic to withstand the pressure of the blood flow. Occasionally part of the wall becomes weakened and balloons outwards. This damaged part is known as an aneurysm and needs to be surgically removed and replaced with a graft.

Benign Brain Tumour:

A benign tumour is a non-cancerous tumour. This means that it does not spread through the body but can grow at its own location causing problems through pressure on the surrounding tissues. This is particularly relevant in the brain where the pressure can cause damage affecting the function of the brain in a serious way.

Burns (Major):

Third degree burns involve the destruction of the full thickness of the skin and can cause damage to the fat, muscle and bone. As a rough guide 20% of the body surface area would amount to the skin covering the back of the trunk.

Cancer:

A malignant tumour or a cancer is one comprised of cells, which multiply in a disorderly and uncontrolled way. These cells can invade surrounding tissues and can give rise to secondary growths in parts of the body remote from the original tumour. Hodgkin’s disease can be described as cancer of the lymph (drainage) system of the body. Leukemia is a malignant disease of the blood where increased numbers of smaller, less effective white blood cells are produced gradually replacing the normal healthy blood cells. Pre-malignant tumours and many skin cancers are not as serious as full-blown cancer and can be treated fairly easily with a good success rate.

Coma:

A deep state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused even by powerful stimulation. Life support systems may be required to maintain body function during the period of unconsciousness.

Coronary Artery Disease Surgery:

This is major open-heart surgery for the treatment of blocked coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the ones feeding the heart muscle and they can become blocked by deposits of atheroma (fatty material). To alleviate the blockage the arteries are bypassed by attaching veins taken from the legs or other arteries from the chest to provide an alternative route through which the blood can flow. This surgery requires general anaesthesia, with the chest and the rib cage being opened to allow access to the heart.

Heart Attack

A heart attack involves the death of a part of the heart muscle resulting from inadequate blood supply due to a blockage of the coronary arteries. The typical symptoms are a crushing, constricting chest pain with the death of the muscle being shown by changes on the electro-cardiogram. The electro-cardiogram is a machine that records the electrical impulses passing across the heart during its action. In the event of a heart attack this tracing will show certain changes which are characteristic of the condition and were not present prior to the current attack. When an individual is hospitalised with a suspected heart attack, a blood test is normally performed to check the levels of cardiac enzymes. The volume of these enzymes increases in the blood following a heart attack and therefore can be measured to confirm the diagnosis.

Heart Valve Surgery:

The blood flow between the four chambers of the heart and out into the arteries is regulated by a series of valves. These valves can become diseased and damaged eventually to a point where a replacement is required. Such an operation will be performed via open-heart surgery with the damaged valve being replaced with an artificial one.

HIV/AIDS:

Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is thought to lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a severe syndrome for which there is currently no cure. It involves the body’s defence mechanism breaking down and leaving the individual open to various infections and types of cancer that will invariably prove fatal.

Kidney Failure:

The kidneys act as filters to remove waste materials from the blood. When the kidneys fail to function properly, a build up of waste products in the blood can lead to life threatening complications. Although the body can function with one kidney, if both kidneys fail completely renal dialysis (kidney machine treatment) or a kidney transplant operation will be required.

Major Organ Transplant:

A transplant is required when one of the body’s major organs, without which life cannot be sustained, fails due to disease or trauma. The major organs in this context are usually defined as:

• Heart - The muscular organ situated in the chest whose function is to pump the blood around the circulatory system.
• Liver - The large organ found to the right of the abdomen whose functions include aiding digestion and dispersing toxic substances.
• Lung - The part of the respiratory system situated in the chest.
• Pancreas - A gland situated near the intestines whose function involves the secretion of certain enzymes and the production of insulin.
• Bone Marrow - A fatty substance contained within the marrow cavity of bones where the blood cells are formed.

Motor Neurone Disease:

This is a progressive disorder causing degeneration of the motor neurons (nerve cells responsible for movement) in the brain and the spine. Unfortunately, there is little effective treatment to alter the outcome of this serious disease.

Multiple Sclerosis:

This is a progressive disease of the central nervous system in which the protective covering (myelin) of the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord is destroyed. The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown and the search for a cure is still being pursued. The severity of the disease can vary considerably and the symptoms will differ depending upon which areas of the brain or spinal cord have been affected. Typical symptoms would be exaggerated reflexes, lack of co-ordination in movement, numbness and tingling (pins and needles) of the extremities and visual problems. The condition is characterised by periods of remission that may last many years between acute phases of disease activity.

Paralysis:

In the context of critical illness, paralysis relates to the total and permanent loss of use of two or more limbs. This could be caused by damage in the brain or spinal cord affecting the transmission of messages through the nervous system or by physical severance of the limbs in question.

Parkinson’s Disease:

A progressive disturbance of voluntary movement characterised by uncontrollable shuffling, unstable rigid gate and tremors. The condition usually runs a slowly progressive course with treatment providing some relief.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

A systemic disease characterised mostly by inflammation of the membrane (synovium) lining a joint. It causes painful destructive changes, commonly involving the small joints of the hands, wrists, knees and feet. Rheumatoid skin nodules are common and severe disability can result. Treatment to reduce the damage caused by the inflammation can be quite effective and the disease will eventually burn itself out.

Stroke:

A stroke is an event that affects the blood supply to the brain. Traditionally strokes are divided into three causal groups:

• Cerebral Haemorrhage - A bleed from a blood vessel in the brain.
• Cerebral Embolism - A blockage of a cerebral artery by a flake of material which has travelled from elsewhere in the body.
• Cerebral Thrombosis - A more gradual clot formation within a diseased cerebral artery.

A stroke may cause paralysis down one side of the body as well as other neurological problems such as disturbance of speech or vision. Transient Ischaemic Attacks are minor temporary episodes caused by a transient interruption in the blood supply to the brain. By their nature the symptoms will only last for minutes and certainly no longer than 24 hours.

Terminal Illness:

A terminal illness is one that, in the opinion of the relevant doctors, is likely to lead to the death of the life assured within 12 months of the claim being submitted.