It’s severely painful, incurable, and growing in prevalence year over year. In fact, the numbers show that nearly one out of every three Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime. Unless you or someone you know has had a personal run-in with the disease, it’s safe to assume that your knowledge is limited. To help, we’re going to shine a light on this troubling viral disease to clear up misconceptions and, most importantly, to keep you safe.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency is uncommon in most healthy adults, but as we get older it can be harder for our bodies to absorb, so we become deficient. This deficiency is often spotted in adults who drink heavily, have recently had gastric bypass surgery, or have been using acid-reducing medication for a long period of time. This simple vitamin deficiency can have troubling symptoms and even more serious consequences.

Did you know that the United States is the only developed country in the world without a universal health care system? In other nations health care is viewed not as a privilege reserved for those who can afford it, but as a basic human right.

Having an allergy to anything, whether it’s pollen or peanuts, can be a real drag. Enduring runny noses and itchy eyes during the spring and summer months, or needing to be constantly mindful of what you eat isn’t exactly fun. Still, it could be worse; you could be allergic to something that’s inconvenient, unavoidable, and necessary to live.

Today, we explore some of the deadliest plagues and pandemics of all time. The grim details are shocking, the death tolls are near incomprehensible, and the threat is far from over. Doctors continue to stave off potential threats to this day.

To spark your curiosity, here’s a list of some of the rarest diseases in the world. Hopefully, if you’re lucky, you’ll go your entire life without having to deal with one of these conditions up close and personal. Check it out and see if any of your obscure symptoms match a syndrome listed.