Diseases have been among humankind since their very existence. Over time, the number of diseases and their deadliness increases day by day.
Though some diseases are found, controlled, and even cured by the hard work of our members of the medical field, diseases are still at large and can have drastic effects on humankind and humanity. Listed below are the top 10 brutal diseases.
Top 10 Brutal Diseases
1. Coronary Artery Disease
CAD is the deadliest disease globally that has consumed countless lives across America, Europe, and Asia. CAD occurs when the artery that supplies blood to the heart gets constricted.
If untreated, it could lead to chest pain, cardiac arrest, or arrhythmias. The risk factors of CAD include a poor diet that contains lots of ‘bad’ fats, smoking, being obese, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, or a family history of Coronary Heart Disease.
CAD can be prevented by regular eating, replacing junk food with healthy fruit and vegetables, drinking lots of water, avoiding smoking, and drinking alcohol in small amounts.
2. Lower Respiratory Infection
Lower Respiratory Infection can be caused by Influenza, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis, and Tuberculosis. Studies from PubMed Central state that although viruses cause some LRI, bacteria are the dominant causative pathogens of LRI.
Risk factors of LRI include smoking, weak immune system, air pollution, asthma, HIV, and the flu. To prevent LRI, it is ideal to get yourself administered a vaccine against LRI and get a flu shot every year.
Other non-medicated ways could be to keep yourself sanitized, avoid going into crowded places and avoid smoking.
3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is a slow, occurring lung disease that is caused by chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Research showed that in 2004, 64 million people were living with COPD.
Risk factors of COPD comprise smoking, passive smoking, lung irritants, air pollution, and a family history of COPD. The progression of COPD can be stopped by medication and treatment.
Progression can also be prevented by avoiding smoking, avoiding being around individuals when they are smoking, avoiding going to places where the air is polluted/
4. Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a disorder and a collection of diseases that affect the production of insulin and its usage. There usually are two types, Type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin, which a person needs to take insulin injections to regulate the sugar levels in their blood.
Type 2 diabetes is when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the target cell does not respond appropriately to it.
This type is the most common, and the risk factors of diabetes include being overweight, having high age, improper diet, and lack of exercise.
Exercising regularly, taking a proper diet, and controlling your weight could prevent diabetes.
5. Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a continuing disease that affects memory and cognitive thinking and denatures normal mental functions. Alzheimer’s and Dementia are both alike and fall in the same category with similar symptoms.
The risk factors of Alzheimer’s include age above 90, inherited genes of this disease from your family, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and head injury. Currently, there is no precise way how to prevent Alzheimer’s.
Still, studies have shown that having a good diet consisting of vitamins and minerals and other benefits nutrition and maintaining a healthy heart should do the job well.
Above this, there are specific programs, activities and even games that help in improving memory and keeping the brain sharp, this too can help.
6. HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus creates a problem in the body’s immune system, and if not treated, it then converts into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
The virus is transmitted through semen fluid, bodily fluids, and vaginal fluids of an affected person. Another cause of HIV is unprotected intercourse with a person that has HIV.
The ideal way to prevent HIV is to use protection during intercourse; HIV patients should avoid engaging sexually, and awareness should be created amongst youngsters so that the disease does not spread.
7. Typhoid
Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can progress to high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. The bacteria Salmonella typhi causes it. The infection is mainly passed on through contaminated food and drinking water, and it is more common in places and areas where handwashing is less frequent and sanitization is not followed.
According to the WHO, an estimated 11–21 million cases of typhoid fever and 200,000 deaths occur worldwide annually.
Typhoid can be prevented by using clean water, removing waste from residential areas, good hygiene, and following proper sanitization methods.
8. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a fatal lung condition caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s
an airborne bacterium, meaning the mode of transmission is air and is easy to catch. The great news is that this bacterium is treatable, although some strains are resistant to conventional treatments.
Causes of death from TB are interlinked with HIV. Patients with TB are also commonly known to have HIV.
HIV attacks the immune system, exposing the body to various infections, and since TB is airborne, the chances of catching it are very likely.
The risk factors posed by TB include HIV, a weak immune system, being underweight, and diabetes.
TB can be prevented by taking the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. An air purifier can be used in homes, schools, and hospitals to avoid the transmission of the bacterium, and also a face mask should be worn to prevent TB.
9. Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is the consequence of chronic or long-term scarring and damage to the liver. The damage may result from kidney disease, or conditions like hepatitis and chronic alcoholism can cause it.
The function of a healthy liver filters harmful substances from your blood. It sends healthy blood into your body, proving the liver is a crucial organ in the body; as substances damage the liver, scar tissue forms.
As more scar tissue forms, it becomes complex for the liver to function correctly, and ultimately, the liver may stop working, causing cirrhosis. The significant risk factors are included an unhealthy diet, too much consumption of alcohol, and fatty liver disease.
Cirrhosis can be prevented by reducing alcohol intake and eating a healthy diet consisting of various fruits and vegetables.
Cirrhosis can also be caused by hepatitis which can be contracted from the blood of the affected by physical contact, which can be done through any razors, shavers, hair cutting equipment, toothbrushes, etc.
10. Infectious Diarrhea
Rotavirus is a virus that is the cause of viral gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines and is a diarrheal disease that can be deadly. In 2013, rotavirus killed 215,000 children under the age of 5 globally, according to the WHO.
The virus causes dehydration which kicks in through severe watery diarrhea and vomiting. Rotavirus can be prevented by getting a vaccine put.
Conclusions
Diseases shall always be part of life, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be prevented. Lead a good lifestyle, adopt healthy habits, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly.
These points will keep you out of harm’s way and prevent you from those mentioned above deadly and brutal diseases and many more.