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Top 10 Deadly Diseases
The human body is capable of many amazing things, but its power can often end in the fatality of thousands. Check out the top 10 deadliest diseases and learn about their causes, symptoms and ways to avoid them!
10. Trachea, Bronchus, Lung Cancers
One wonders if our caveman ancestors were smoking nuts and berries, but for whatever reason, the use of nicotine products seems to be wired into the human genome. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. But what is even scarier is that more than 3,000 nonsmoking adults will die each year from lung cancer caused by breathing in second hand smoke. It is the deadliest type of cancer for both men and women. Every year, more people die of lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. So put out those ciggys and step away from those who continue to puff away, because nothing good can come from either!
9. Malaria
Everyone despises being eaten alive by pesky mosquitoes in the summer, but you would be surprised how many of those annoying bugs could actually lead to our demise! Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from one human to another through the bite of an infected mosquito. In humans, the parasites travel to the liver, where they mature. Once matured, they release another parasite that then enters the bloodstream and infects the red blood cells. The parasites multiply at a rapid speed, but symptoms could take up to one year to show. The disease is a major health problem in much of the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die from the disease. It presents a major health hazard for travelers to warm climates — something definitely to be weary of when planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip to the rain forest.
8. Tuberculosis
Mucous, fever, fatigue, excessive sweating and weight loss. What do they all have in common? They are symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, or TB. TB is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs, but it may spread to other organs. The symptoms of this disease can remain stagnant for years or affect the person right away. People at higher risk for contracting TB include the elderly, infants and those with weakened immune systems due to other diseases, such as AIDS or diabetes, or even individuals who have undergone chemotherapy. Being around others who may have TB, maintaining a poor diet or living in unsanitary conditions are all risk factors for contracting TB. In the United States, there are approximately 10 cases of TB per 100,000 people.
7. Diarrheal Diseases
It is never pleasant to have to excuse yourself during an important meeting to rush to the toilet or to spend much of your long-awaited trip to the beach in your hotel room because of diarrhea. Now just i magine if those embarrassing bowel movements caused your whole immune system to shut down! Diarrhea is defined as loose or watery stools that can last for a day or two. If it lasts for weeks or even months, diarrhea is considered a chronic disease. Diarrhea of any kind can cause dehydration, which means the body loses a lot of important fluids and electrolytes. People of all ages can get diarrhea; according to the National Institutes of Health, in the United States adults average one occurrence of severe diarrhea a year while children have an average of two episodes a year. So it seems that this unpleasant ailment is relatively common, but if left untreated, it can lead to severe dehydration … and even death!
6. Perinatal Conditions
Childbirth can be a magical moment between young parents and a newborn, but it can also tragically take a turn for the worse. Every year, about half a million women worldwide die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, including severe bleeding/hemorrhaging, infections, unsafe abortions, obstructed labor and eclampsia, and more than 90 percent of maternal deaths occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. These perinatal complications can not only be fatal for mothers but for their young children as well, with medical conditions such as low birth weight contributing to more than one in five deaths in children. Of those deaths, more than 3 million infants die during the first week of life. Many of these deaths can be prevented, however! They are usually caused by a lack of nutrition and poor maternal health. I nadequate medical care during pregnancy and delivery can also result in perinatal conditions.
5. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is definitely a mouthful, but a mouthful of something nobody wants to taste. Commonly known as COPD, is it one of the most common forms of lung disease, and it makes it very difficult to breathe. There are two different forms. One is chronic bronchitis, which is defined by a long- term cough with mucous. The other is emphysema, which is the destruction of the lungs over time. Most people with COPD have a combination of both. Smoking is the leading cause of this disease, although some people smoke for years and seem to dodge the bullet! Other risk factors include exposure to gases or fumes in the work place as well as exposure to heavy second hand smoke. Bottom line, stay away from that nicotine!
4. HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS was first reported in the 1980s, and throughout the decades this chronic life-threatening medical condition has affected more and more humans. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, and it is one "bug" that we as a species can't seem to kick. HIV infection weakens the immune system to the point that it can't fight off anything anymore, and something as simple as the common cold can turn fatal. The virus attacks T cells and CD4 cells, both of which we need to fight off infection. HIV eventually fights off so many CD4 cells that the body cannot battle any infection or illness, at which point the person develops full-blown AIDS. AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency, is when your immune system is not working as it should. HIV/AIDs can be acquired through blood transfusions or the sharing of needles or bodily fluids.
3. Lower Respiratory Infections
We all need to breathe. It is one of the necessities of life. But if you suffer from a lower respiratory infection, breathing ain't a walk in the park. There are two types of lower respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. Some common symptoms of these infections are runny nose and sneezing, headache, and sore throat. Children are also susceptible to this disease. It can be difficult to diagnose lower respiratory infections properly, as they can be caused by either a virus or bacterial growth in the lungs.
2. Cerebrovascular Disease
Cerebrovascular disease is a fancy way of saying stroke. Either way, this disease is not pleasant. A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted because a blood vessel in the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or bursts open (hemorrhagic stroke). If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain can't get blood and oxygen. Brain cells then die, causing permanent damage. When brain cells die, the body panics. High blood pressure is the No. 1 risk factor for a stroke — so keep that blood running smoothly and no one gets hurt!
1. Ischemic Heart Disease
When an organ is forgotten by the body, we are in trouble. With ischemic heart disease, that is exactly what happens. "Ischemic" means that an organ (such as the heart) is not getting enough blood and oxygen. When the arteries that bring blood and oxygen to the heart are blocked, it means you have ischemic heart disease — and a very big problem. If left untreated, this disease can lead to heart failure and death. Ischemic Heart Disease affects 1 out of 100 people, often middle-aged to elderly males. But ladies, don't wipe your brow just yet, because it can affect you too! Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. The best thing you can do to prevent ischemic heart disease is take great care of yourself and make sure no organ is left behind!
(Posted by: Deepak Kumar)