There are many diseases in the world, due to which tens and hundreds of thousands of people die every year. The World Health Organization identified 15 of them as the most common. According to statistics, it is these diseases in 60% of cases that cause death.
Coronary artery disease
The first place in the ranking of the most common diseases of the world is coronary heart disease. This disease is associated with insufficient blood flow to certain parts of the heart muscle. Most often, older people suffer from ischemia, in most cases men.
There are many factors that can affect the development of coronary heart disease. These include:
- diabetes;
- smoking;
- alcohol consumption;
- passive lifestyle;
- the presence of excess weight;
- lipid metabolism disorders.
Ischemia is not in vain considered the most common non-communicable disease, because only in Russia more than 600 thousand people die from it every year. This disease leads to either disability or death, and therefore is also considered one of the most undesirable and dangerous. In order to protect yourself from the development of cardiac pathologies, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, control your body weight, do not neglect sports and eat the right food.
Cerebrovascular disease
This disease differs from coronary heart disease in that in this case, insufficient blood supply affects not the heart, but brain tissue. This in turn leads to oxygen starvation, which can result in a stroke and, in the worst case, death.
There are several forms of the disease - ischemic, hemorrhagic and mixed. In the first case, the formation of blood clots or atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels of the brain becomes the cause of the stroke. Secondly, hypertensive hemorrhage in the brain.
The victims of the disease are usually people over 50 years old, patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Also at risk are:
- smokers
- alcohol lovers;
- people with impaired fat metabolism;
- congenital malformations of blood vessels;
- skull injuries;
- blood diseases;
- people exposed to frequent stress;
- Diabetics
- patients who have suffered a serious hormonal failure;
- having tumors in the tissues of the brain;
- heart rhythm problems.
Currently, medicine has taken a big step forward, making it possible to improve the condition of a patient with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. However, unfortunately, so far not a single therapy is able to fully cope with the changes that have occurred in the vessels.
Lower respiratory tract infections
In third place in the list of the most common diseases are lower respiratory tract infections. The most dangerous are pneumonia, empyema, pneumonia, abscess or complications of chronic bronchitis.
Few people have not heard of a disease such as pneumonia, which is not surprising, given its prevalence and possible consequences. The worst thing is that most often its victims are children, because the disease “attacks” people with weak or low immunity. The risk group also includes elderly people, drug addicts, smokers, people who are often faced with stress, as well as those with respiratory tract pathologies.
Similar factors can affect the development of lung abscess or pleural empyema. These diseases are accompanied by the appearance of purulent necrotic cavities in the tissues of the lungs and accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity.
AIDS and HIV
AIDS is on the list of the most common infectious diseases in the world and is also considered the slowest. The fact is that more than 15 years can pass from the moment a person is charged to a fatal outcome.
Doctors distinguish several stages of this disease. The first is characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, cough, general weakness. At these stages, AIDS is easily confused with the common cold, which is why the diagnosis of the disease is often delayed.
During the second, asymptomatic stage, there are no signs of the disease at all. A person with AIDS may not even suspect this, because the first significant changes in his body occur only after a few years - this process is called the third stage of the disease. If during it the human immunity becomes much weaker, then the fourth and last stage is characterized by its complete destruction.
Cancer
Some people call cancer “the plague of the 21st century” and for good reason, because over 8 million people die every year from various types of this disease. The most common are cancer of the lungs, stomach, liver, rectum, cervix and breast.
The main risk factors in this case are sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcoholism and unhealthy diet. Also, various chronic infections can affect the development of tumor formation in the body.
What distinguishes cancer from many of the most common diseases in the world is that it can be cured if it is diagnosed and taken in time to take all necessary measures. There are several methods for its treatment - chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. In cases where the disease has progressed strongly and the chances of recovery are slim, palliative care is used to alleviate the patient’s suffering.
Diarrhea
Many underestimate the danger of this kind of disease, although in fact they are the most common cause of death among young children. Fatal dehydration of the body leads to death, which in some cases is almost impossible to avoid.
Disorders in the pancreas, problems with the production of enzymes, prolonged use of antibiotics, radiation therapy and ingestion of food toxins can lead to the development of diarrhea. The best way to prevent diarrhea is to use purified water and fresh, quality food.
Tuberculosis
About 3% of deaths on the planet occur in tuberculosis, and therefore it rightfully takes its place in the list of the most common diseases of the 21st century. The main danger of this disease is that it is transmitted by airborne droplets.
In the past, doctors had hoped to completely eradicate tuberculosis, as happened with smallpox. However, the disease turned out to be stronger, because its main causative agent, tuberculosis microbacterium, has the ability to adapt to environmental conditions and develop immunity to drugs.
People with bad habits (drugs, smoking, alcohol) are at risk of getting tuberculosis. Also, persons in contact with sick patients, employees of medical institutions, people with AIDS and diabetes mellitus are at risk.
Malaria
Malaria is most common in the countries of Asia and Africa, because it is there that a large number of carriers of infection - mosquitoes anopheles - live. Previously, malaria was called "swamp fever", as the main symptoms of this ailment are a strong increase in body temperature and chills.
For the treatment of malaria, quinine, an alkaloid of the cinchona bark, has an analgesic and antipyretic effect. Currently, this substance has been replaced by more effective and safe synthetic analogues, however, many doctors still insist on the use of quinine.
Polio
Poliomyelitis is the most common non-communicable disease in children. The disease develops very quickly, although the first 14 days are asymptomatic. After this, severe nausea, weakness, muscle weakness and paralysis ensue. In most cases, children who become ill with polio either do not survive or remain paralyzed forever.
Bird flu
Many do not expect that the question: “What is the most common disease among people?” Will receive the answer: “Avian influenza”. This disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, and the virus itself enters the human body along with contaminated food, namely poultry meat or eggs.
In many ways, bird flu resembles a common cold, but serious complications come over time. The main and most dangerous is SARS, because its "culmination" is death.
Cholera
Cholera is an acute intestinal disorder characterized by damage to the small intestine, fecal-oral distribution mechanism, and symptoms such as:
- diarrhea;
- vomiting
- nausea;
- dehydration.
Cholera is most common in Africa, Asia, South America and India, where not the highest quality of life is noted. In most cases, infection occurs when drinking bad water, in which there is a cholera vibrio, bathing in "infected" ponds, and even washing dishes on which the bacteria settled.
Hypertonic disease
By itself, this disease does not pose such a danger as the complications that arise from it. It is a serious pathology of the cardiovascular system - heart attack, stroke and other diseases.
Hypertension - the most common non-communicable disease in the world - is characterized by an increase in blood pressure, which leads to further serious consequences. Frequent stresses and fatigue, overweight, the presence of endocrine diseases, the intake of a large amount of salt, various infections can lead to the development of the disease.
Childhood diseases
Special attention should be paid to childhood diseases, because every year millions of children die because of them. Among them are considered the most common diseases:
- whooping cough;
- mumps;
- hepatitis A;
- scarlet fever;
- salmonellosis.
Most of childhood diseases are caused by various bacteria that cause irreparable harm to an immune system that is weakened. Currently, vaccination against these and other diseases is widely practiced throughout the world, but they still could not be completely eradicated.
In Russia
The most common diseases in Russia are bronchitis, pneumonia, acute laryngitis and tracheitis. Doctors believe that this trend is due to the habit of people to carry the disease "on their feet." It is highly recommended that during acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections, avoid strong physical exertion, going to work and observe bed rest, accompanied by medical treatment.
It is worth noting that over the past few years the number of recorded cases of these diseases has increased, although mortality rates have decreased. In 2016, 20.8 thousand with pneumonia, laryngitis, bronchitis and tracheitis accounted for 100 thousand Russians. It has been established that people over 55 years of age are most affected by the disease, when it comes to women, and 60 years - in the case of men.
Unfortunately, this is not all diseases that lead to deaths. Many common diseases have not yet been cured, and therefore doctors strongly recommend getting vaccinated on time and adhering to a healthy lifestyle, because this is the only way to protect yourself from unpleasant consequences.