Life Threatening Diseases: Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment

Overview

Life Threatening Diseases: Diseases which can threaten the life of an individual are referred to as life threatening diseases. Such diseases can affect different organs or systems of the body and how often do they require advanced medical treatment facilities and change of lifestyles for them to be curbed or managed. In this article, the various life threatening diseases that are prevalent will be examined along their causes and risk factors as well as their possible treatments in order to deal with these infections.

Life Threatening Diseases Include:

Causes:

• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• High cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia)
• Lack of physical activity and Poor diet
• Smoking and high level of alcohol consumption

Risk Factors:

• Age factor
• Family history of heart disease
• Obesity (Overweight)
• Diabetes (High sugar levels)

Treatment:

• Changes on diet and exercise to include those that are healthy for the heart
• Medicine that lower the blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• In some cases, surgical procedures like bypass surgery or angioplasty

Causes:

• Genetic mutations
• Lifestyle habits like smoking, pollution, or contact with carcinogenic substances
• Obesity and poor diet

Risk Factors:

• Previous occurrence of the disease within the family.
• Exposure to radiation or harmful chemicals
• Age (the risk going up with age)

Treatment:

• Remove tumors by Surgery
• Usage of Radiation therapy to kill malignant cells
• Chemotherapy to target cancerous cells all over the body
• Perform Immunotherapy to support the immune system’s ability to fight invasive cancer cells

Causes:

• Smoking (the most common factor placing an individual at risk for the development of COPD)
• Chronic or continuous exposure to other irritating substances
• Hereditary factors

Risk factors:

• The act of smoking or inhalation of smoke from others
• Industrial and household fumes
• In childhood frequent infections of the respiratory system

Treatment:

• Inhalers to facilitate breathing
• Oxygen therapy in critical conditions
• Change of habits like quitting smoking or minimizing cigarette smoke and other pollutants exposure

Causes:

• Family history (Type 1 diabetes)
• Genetics and lifestyle (Type 2 diabetes)

Risk Factors:

• Family history
• Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle
• Age and inactive behavior

Treatment:

• Insulin treatment (for Type 1 diabetes)
• Medicines that control blood sugar levels (for Type 2 diabetes)
• Regular blood glucose levels monitoring
• Healthy diet and physical activity for weight maintenance

Causes:

• Infections due to Bacteria, Virus, Parasite
• Poor Unclean Water Sources and hygiene
• Close contact by infected individuals

Risk Factors:

• Compromised immune system due to illness such as with HIV
• Inadequate medical care
• No immunization

Treatment:

• Antibiotics in case of bacterial infection
• Medication in the case of HIV/AIDS (antiretroviral)
• Antimalarial drugs in the case for malaria
• Prevent infections by vaccinations e. g BCG vaccine used against TB.

Causes:

• Diabetes and Hypertension
• Family history of renal diseases
• Poor lifestyle

Risk Factors:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Family history of renal disease

Treatment:

• Dialysis in order to clean the blood
• Kidney transplant due to kidney failure
• Disease modifying treatment procedures to address complications and disease progression

Prevention of Life Threatening Diseases

Most of the deadly diseases are influenced by some genetic factors but a good number of them can be prevented or the risks minimized and thus promotion of better health remains the most key aspect of preventing such diseases. It deals with the modification of the risk factors and the enhancement of the healthy behaviors.

1. Healthy Diet

A healthy balanced diet that is highly inclusive of, fruits, vegetable, whole grains, vegetables and healthy fats only lean meats and low fat diet can greatly prevent life threatening ailments such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases among others. And lastly, fit levels of healthy saturated fats whilst limiting processed and excess sugar and unhealthy fats to maintain good health.

2. Regular Physical Activity

Regular exercise is also important in controlling obesity, promoting cardiovascular health activities, diabetes hypertensive control among other diseases that require weight reduction. At least 30 minutes of enough intensity exercise on most if not all days of the week is recommended.

3. Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol Consumption

Tobacco smoking is one of the greatest causative factors of life threatening disease such as cancer, respiratory illness and heart diseases. Smokers and ex-smokers are in significantly better relative health than those exposed to. Furthermore, abstaining even from passive smoking is important because it lowers the chances of getting other diseases. On top of that, moderating alcohol is advisable as it lessens the chances of developing liver-related ailments.

4. Routine Medical Checkups

Your doctor, through regular visits will be able to note any signs of any kind of disease which may put your life in danger. There are also screening tests for cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions that may cause problems at a later stage.

Conclusion

They are deadly illnesses, every year, these illnesses millions and millions of people across the world. Such diseases can be thought of as bad, but knowing their causes, risk factors, and treatment options can help people take measures to prevent the diseases and to control them when they are in the workable stages. By leading a healthy lifestyle and taking care of our health timely, we can cope with the life-threatening diseases and improve our wellness.

Self-care practices might save us from very grave repercussions of these illnesses in the near future. It can be by way of dietary plans, keeping fit or preventive medical work, proactive strategies are very important in promoting one’s wellness and minimizing effects of any chronic diseases such as cancer.