The 10 most common and frequent diseases

Health is, at times, terribly fragile. The human body is prepared to face the most complicated situations, but it is also highly vulnerable to external agents and to its own biological mechanisms.

In this article we have made a list of the most common diseases and pathologies that affect a greater number of people.

The most common genetic diseases

Below you can find the main genetic diseases.

1. Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases, those that affect the heart and blood vessels, are, in many cases, silent killers. In reality, these diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Factors such as high cholesterol or triglycerides over a period of time prolonged can deteriorate our cardiovascular system and cause or trigger this type of diseases. Bad habits (for example, smoking) and obesity also contribute to the development of these diseases. Angina pectoris or hypertension are some of the conditions that fall within this group.

2. Obesity

Obesity is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a disease and an epidemic

. This condition is associated with a multitude of health complications, and scientific data shows that it is on the rise, especially in developed countries. Bad eating habits and sedentary life are some of the causes that influence its development; however, there may be other origins, such as: genetic factors.

• To delve into this topic, you can read our article: "Types of obesity: characteristics and risks”

3. Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease with a high prevalence worldwide, in 2015, approximately 400 million cases had been diagnosed across the globe. It is characterized by hyperglycemia (high concentration of sugar in the blood, that is, glucose) and problems that derive from it: cardiovascular problems, kidney problems, etc. There are different types of diabetes, for example type I diabetes, type II diabetes, gestational, etc. (you can delve into the types of diabetes by clicking on this link).

• To find out if you suffer from this disease, in our article “How do I know if I have diabetes? Main symptoms that warn us”You will find very useful information.

4. Cancer

Today, there is a lot of talk about cancer, as one of the most frequent diseases of our time. According to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), 220,000 new cases were diagnosed in Spain last year. Scientific data also estimate that this figure will increase in the future.

Cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the body. Cancer can be benign or malignant, and it can occur in different locations in the body: lung, colon, prostate, kidney, etc.

• There are different types of classification for this disease. You can know more in our article: "Cancer types: definition, risks and how they are classified”

5. Asthma

This disease can have different degrees, and is chronic.. It occurs in the lungs, when the bronchial tubes become inflamed and make breathing difficult. In severe cases it can be fatal, but many people live normal lives with this disease. The causes of asthma are unclear and there is no cure. According to the WHO, it affects 235 million people in the world.

6. Cavities

Dental cavities are very common among the population, so they are within this list of diseases for being a very common condition. Tooth decay occurs because tooth tissues are damaged by the presence of bacteria and by demineralization. Its main cause is poor oral hygiene, although hereditary factors also seem to influence.

7. COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is a respiratory disease that causes progressive damage in the respiratory system, and hinders and decreases the ability to inhale air. It can cause chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and its main cause is smoking. More than 18,000 people die in Spain each year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics.

8. Flu

Everyone, at some point in our lives, has suffered from the flu. A disease that, in most cases, does not represent major complications, except for vulnerable people, such as the elderly. Headache, vomiting, fever and malaise are some of the symptoms that appear when the disease manifests itself.

9. Liver disease

There are many liver diseases, and they all have different causes. For example, by viruses, in the case of hepatitis; by drugs or toxins such as alcohol, in the case of cirrhosis... Many of these disorders can have serious consequences if not treated correctly and can lead to death.

10. Stress

Stress has been dubbed the disease of the 21st century, and despite the fact that it affects our emotional and mental health, has serious consequences on a physical level. Millions of people around the globe experience stress, which can have many causes. A very common form of stress is that which occurs at work, among which work stress and burnout stand out.

This last phenomenon occurs when stress is prolonged over time and causes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of fulfillment. (decrease in personal self-esteem, frustration of expectations, motivation and manifestations of stress at the physiological, cognitive and behavioral).

• You can know more about this condition in our article: "Burnout: how to detect it and take action”