Top 10 Diseases around the World

Non-communicable Diseases

*Cardiovascular disease

Poor diet and physical inactivity can cause increased:

 blood pressure

 blood glucose

 blood lipids

 obesity

These conditions increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some people are born
with (genetically predisposed to have) certain cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular disease
is the leading cause of noncommunicable disease deaths.

The treatment option that is best for a person will depend on their specific type of CVD.

However, some options include:

 medication, such as to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol, improve blood flow, or

regulate heart rhythm

 surgery, such as coronary artery bypass grafting or valve repair or replacement surgery

 cardiac rehabilitation, including exercise prescriptions and lifestyle counselling

*Cancer

Cancer affects people of all ages, socioeconomic statuses, genders, and ethnicities. It’s
the second most-common cause Trusted Source of non-communicable disease death globally.
Some cancers cannot be avoided due to genetic risks. However, the World Health Organization
estimates that 30 to 50 percent Trusted Source of cancers are preventable with adoption of
healthy lifestyle choices.

Key steps in preventing disease include:

 avoiding tobacco

 limiting alcohol

 getting immunized against cancer-causing infections

*Chronic respiratory disease

Chronic respiratory diseases are ailments affecting the airways and lung structures. Some of
these diseases have a genetic basis.

However, other causes include lifestyle choices such as smoking and environmental conditions
like exposure to air pollution, poor air quality, and poor ventilation.

Key steps in preventing disease include:

 medication
 oxygen therapy
 surgery

* Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood
sugar (glucose). It can also occur when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
Some effects of diabetes include heart disease, vision loss, and kidney injury. If blood sugar
levels are not controlled, diabetes can seriously damage other organs and systems in the body
over time.

*  Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia. Dementia is a broader term for conditions
caused by brain injuries or diseases that negatively affect memory, thinking, and behavior. These
changes interfere with daily living.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of

dementia cases. Most people with the disease get a diagnosis after age 65. If it’s diagnosed
before then, it’s generally referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the
disease. Your doctor may also recommend antidepressants, antianxiety medications, or
antipsychotics to help treat symptoms related to Alzheimer’s. These symptoms include:

 depression

 restlessness

 aggression

 agitation

 hallucinations

in addition t o medication, lifestyle changes may help you manage your condition. For example,
your doctor might develop strategies to help you or your loved one:

 focus on tasks

 limit confusion

 avoid confrontation
  get enough rest every day

 stay calm

*Arthritis

The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time, but they may also appear suddenly.
Arthritis is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 65, but it can also develop in children,
teens, and younger adults. Arthritis is more common in women than men and in people who are
overweight.

The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain you’re experiencing and prevent
additional damage to the joints. You’ll learn what works best for you in terms of controlling
pain. Some people find heating pads and ice packs to be soothing. Others use mobility assistance
devices, like canes or walkers, to help take pressure off sore joints. Improving your joint function
is also important. Your doctor may prescribe you a combination of treatment methods to achieve
the best results.

* Asthma

Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is

characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily
triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness,
and shortness of breath.

Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important
medications used to keep asthma under control. These preventive medications treat the airway
inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. Used on a daily basis, these medications can
reduce or eliminate asthma flare-ups.

*Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in
vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include
faded colors, blurry or double vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble
seeing at night.

Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens.
The artificial lens, called an intraocular lens, is positioned in the same place as your natural lens.
It remains a permanent part of your eye. For some people, other eye problems prohibit the use of
an artificial lens.

* Chronic Lung disease (CLD)

also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, occurs when a newborn's lungs have been injured.

In the past, the condition was thought to only affect premature babies with a breathing problem
called respiratory distress syndrome, who were treated with oxygen through a ventilator.

* Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should. The main risk
factors for developing kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a
family history of kidney failure.

CKD is treated by:

 Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

 Keep a healthy blood pressure.

 Follow a low-salt, low-fat diet.

 Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

 Keep a healthy weight.

 Do not smoke or use tobacco.

 Limit alcohol.
Communicable Diseases
*Flu
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus.
Symptoms can be mild to severe. The most common symptoms include: high fever, runny nose,
sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. The cough, however,
may last for more than two weeks.
Usually, you'll need nothing more than bed rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. But if you
have severe infection or are at higher risk for complications, your doctor may prescribe an
antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), peramivir (Rapivab) or
baloxavir (Xofluza).

*HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight off
infections. Untreated HIV infects and kills CD4 cells, which are a type of immune cell called T
cells. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the body is more likely to get various types of
infections and cancers.

HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include:

 blood

 semen

 vaginal and rectal fluids

 breast milk

The virus doesn’t spread in air or water, or through casual contact.

HIV is a lifelong condition and currently there is no cure, although many scientists are working
to find one. However, with medical care, including treatment called antiretroviral therapy, it’s
possible to manage HIV and live with the virus for many years.
 Without treatment, a person with HIV is likely to develop a serious condition called AIDS. At
that point, the immune system is too weak to fight off other diseases and infections. Untreated,
life expectancy with AIDS is about three yearsTrusted Source. With antiretroviral therapy, HIV
can be well-controlled and life expectancy can be nearly the same as someone who has not
contracted HIV. A person can also be diagnosed with AIDS if they have HIV and develop
an opportunistic infection or cancer that’s rare in people who don’t have HIV. An opportunistic
infection, such as pneumonia, is one that takes advantage of a unique situation, such as HIV.

Treatment should begin as soon as possible after a diagnosis of HIV, regardless of viral load. The
main treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy, a combination of daily medications that stop the
virus from reproducing. This helps protect CD4 cells, keeping the immune system strong enough
to fight off disease. Antiretroviral therapy helps keep HIV from progressing to AIDS. It also
helps reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

*Ebola

Ebola isn’t as contagious as more common viruses like colds, influenza, or measles. It spreads to

people by contact with the skin or bodily fluids of an infected animal, like a monkey, chimp, or
fruit bat. Then it moves from person to person the same way. Those who care for a sick person or
bury someone who has died from the disease often get it.

Other ways to get Ebola include touching contaminated needles or surfaces.

You can’t get Ebola from air, water, or food. A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t
spread the disease.

Treatment includes an experimental serum that destroys infected cells.

Doctors manage the symptoms of Ebola with:

 Fluids and electrolytes
 Oxygen
 Blood pressure medication
 Blood transfusions
 Treatment for other infections