Deadly diseases refer to those that have the most deaths annually. They are often chronic illnesses: they develop over a while, usually years. They could become very severe and incurable if they’re not noticed on time. Most times, people mistake deadly diseases for those that kill within short periods.

Most deadly diseases can be prevented or even cured. In many cases, the patient recognizes the ailment’s symptoms late or at stages when doctors can do little to fix it.

Some of such diseases, with their common symptoms and risk factors, are listed below.

1. Heart diseases

Heart diseases generally refer to all disease conditions where the heart functions, majorly maintaining unidirectional blood flow. The most common and deadliest form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD).

In CAD, some substances block or narrow the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscles. Less blood gets to the heart muscles, and the individual suffers heart attacks due to infarction of the heart muscles.

CAD’s most typical symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Tightness and pressure build up in the chest during physical activity.
• Dizziness.
• Neck or shoulder aches.
• Cold sweats.

Poor living habits often cause CAD. On the other hand, having high serum cholesterol levels, diabetes, and even a family history increases the risk of CAD.

Doctors often treat CAD with surgical procedures, like triple bypass operations, in advanced cases. For less complicated situations, medications are usually enough to manage the ailment, as they reduce the pain or treat other pathologies contributing to the CAD.

2. Stroke

An individual experiences stroke when a blood vessel that supplies a portion of the brain blocks or leaks. The group of cells it serves lacks oxygen and starts dying. Since every part of the brain controls a part of the body, there will be noticeable changes to the functions of certain body parts when these cells die. This impaired functioning–or lack of function–is a primary stroke symptom in patients.

If left untreated, the patient could suffer long-term disabilities. Some of them include loss of movement (one side or both sides of the body), loss of sight, etc., depending on which part of the brain was affected.

The several risk factors associated with stroke include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Being female

Maintaining healthy lifestyle practices, like eating healthy diets, regular exercise, and taking proper supplements, help reduce your risk of stroke.

3. Diarrhea

Diarrhea describes a condition where you pass loose stool several times a day. A wide range of bacterial and viral infections could cause diarrheal conditions.

Diarrhea causes severe symptoms in children under five years, especially in underdeveloped countries with poor healthcare provisions. If it persists for over a few days, your body loses too much water and salts, leading to dehydration. About 760,000 children die yearly as a result of diarrhea.

Its typical symptoms are loose stool and dehydration, which you can notice by pinching the skin and watching out for its elasticity. The following conditions could put an individual at risk of developing diarrhea:

• Living in an environment with poor sanitation and hygiene
• No access to clean water
• Malnourishment
• Age
• Compromised immunity

The easiest way to prevent diarrhea is by maintaining quality hygiene in your environment. Hygienic conditions will reduce the establishment of bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. Also, the disease is easily managed if the patient can access medical care early enough.

Some of the world’s deadliest diseases could be prevented or better controlled if people embrace healthy habits. The poor lifestyle most people adopt is the primary reason they develop some of these ailments.