World’s Top 10 Killer Diseases

Diseases are among the major causes of human deaths. Millions are dying of diseases every year. On the average, 57 million people die annually. Large percentage of this figure is caused by diseases.

1. Cardiovascular Disease

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Cardiovascular Disease is the world’s number one killing disease. About 29.34% of annual worldwide deaths are cause by this disease. Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Most countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. Each year, heart disease kills more Americans than cancer. It is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries. Making primary preventions from childhood proves necessary and important. According to world statistics, more than 3 million die of Cardiovascular Disease annually.

2. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases

The second deadliest disease in the world and represents 23.04% of annual deaths worldwide is Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. Common examples of these diseases include Influenza, Yellow Fever, Tuberculosis and many others. An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. There are 4 types of anti-infective drugs that exist: antibacterial, antiviral, antitubercular, and antifungal.

3. Ischemic Heart Disease

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Ischemic Heart Disease represents 12.64% of annual worldwide deaths. In the developed countries, there are 3,512,000 deaths annually and 2,484,000 deaths in developing countries. Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle, usually due to coronary disease. Symptoms include angina and decreased exercise tolerance. It is the most common cause of death in most Western countries, and a major cause of hospital admissions. It is also known as Myocardial Ischaemia.

4. Malignant Neoplasms

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Twelve point forty-nine percent of annual worldwide deaths are caused by Malignant Neoplasms. In 2007, 76.6 million people died from cancer. Malignant Neoplasm is the medical term for ‘cancer’. It is a class of disease in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). Most cancers form a tumor but some do not.

5. Cerebrovascular Disease

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Cerebrovascular Disease is the 4th highest caused of human deaths with 9.66% of annual worldwide deaths. In the developed countries, 3,346,000 deaths were recorded while 1,381,000 deaths were recorded in developing countries. This disease is commonly known as ‘stroke’. It is a group of brain dysfunctions related to disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain. The most important cause of stroke is ‘hypertension’; it damages the blood vessel lining, endothelium, exposing the underlying collagen where platelets aggregate to initiate a repairing process which is not always complete and perfect.

6. Respiratory Infection

Respiratory Infection contributes 6.95% of the annual worldwide deaths. A respiratory system’s function is to allow gas exchange. The space between the alveoli and the capillaries, the anatomy or structure of the exchange system, and the precise physiological uses of the exchanged gases vary depending on the organism.

7. Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

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Lower respiratory Tract Infection constitutes 6.81% of the world’s annual causes of death. In the developing countries, about 2,643,000 deaths were recorded and about 1,180,000 deaths were registered in developed countries. This disease is synonymous to pneumonia but can also be applied to other types of infection which includes lung abscess, acute bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, high fever, coughing and fatigue.

8. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

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AIDS is the caused of death of 4.87% of annual worldwide deaths. Majority of people who died from AIDS are from developing countries with 2,678,000 deaths. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. The disease can be transmitted through anal, vaginal or oral sex. Contaminated hypodermic needles and blood transfusion can be the means of transmission. In 2007, it is estimated that there about 33.2 million people with AIDS.

9. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease accounts for 4.82% of annual worldwide deaths. Every year, about 1,829,000 deaths are recorded in developed countries and 748,000 deaths in developing countries. This disease is referred to ‘chronic bronchitis’ and emphysema, a pair of two commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. The major cause of this disease is smoking.

10. Digestive Diseases

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Digestive Diseases is the caused of death of 3.15% of worldwide deaths every year. All diseases that pertain to the gastrointestinal tract are labeled as Digestive Diseases. Diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum jejunum, ileo-cecal complex, large intestine, sigmoid colon and rectum fall into this category.

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