An Overview of Common Chronic Diseases
The most common chronic diseases affecting the population today are heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
These diseases are the leading causes of death and disability across the nation.
Common chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of every ten deaths and directly affect the quality of life for over ninety million American citizens.
Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease affects the heart and circulatory system.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
This disease can set on as early as young adulthood and occurs equally in men and women.
Heart disease occurs due to decreased blood flow caused by thickening and hardening of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle.
A complete disruption in blood flow results in the heath of heart cells, causing a heart attack.
The most common symptom of heart disease is chest pain or discomfort.
This pain and discomfort is called angina, it occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen.
Heart failure is also a symptom of heart disease, it occurs when the heart looses the ability to effectively pump blood.
This usually leads to a stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in or leading to the brain bursts or becomes clogged, keeping the brain blood deprived.
Cancer is a common disease that is made up of over 100 different diseases that fall under the category of abnormal cell growth.
Cells become cancerous because of damaged DNA.
When a normal cell has damaged DNA, the cell is usually destroyed by the immune system.
Cancerous cells continue reproducing, creating a mass of cells with damaged DNA.
These cells do not work properly and cause a multitude of problems in the body.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common type of cancer is lung cancer.
In 2010, it was estimated that there were over 200,000 new cases in the United States.
The second leading type of cancer (among women) is breast cancer.
In 2010, there was also an estimate of over 200,000 new cases.
Other common types include endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, colon and rectal cancer, melanoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Diabetes is a disease that keeps the body from producing insulin or does not allow the body to use insulin.
Diabetes is currently the most rapidly growing common chronic disease.
Diabetes is the main cause of new blindness, kidney disease and amputation.
It also contributes to heart disease.
Though these diseases are chronic and deadly, they can often easily be avoided and prevented by living a healthy lifestyle.
Many of these diseases are caused by smoking and poor diets.
These diseases are the leading causes of death and disability across the nation.
Common chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of every ten deaths and directly affect the quality of life for over ninety million American citizens.
Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease affects the heart and circulatory system.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
This disease can set on as early as young adulthood and occurs equally in men and women.
Heart disease occurs due to decreased blood flow caused by thickening and hardening of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle.
A complete disruption in blood flow results in the heath of heart cells, causing a heart attack.
The most common symptom of heart disease is chest pain or discomfort.
This pain and discomfort is called angina, it occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen.
Heart failure is also a symptom of heart disease, it occurs when the heart looses the ability to effectively pump blood.
This usually leads to a stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in or leading to the brain bursts or becomes clogged, keeping the brain blood deprived.
Cancer is a common disease that is made up of over 100 different diseases that fall under the category of abnormal cell growth.
Cells become cancerous because of damaged DNA.
When a normal cell has damaged DNA, the cell is usually destroyed by the immune system.
Cancerous cells continue reproducing, creating a mass of cells with damaged DNA.
These cells do not work properly and cause a multitude of problems in the body.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common type of cancer is lung cancer.
In 2010, it was estimated that there were over 200,000 new cases in the United States.
The second leading type of cancer (among women) is breast cancer.
In 2010, there was also an estimate of over 200,000 new cases.
Other common types include endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, colon and rectal cancer, melanoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Diabetes is a disease that keeps the body from producing insulin or does not allow the body to use insulin.
Diabetes is currently the most rapidly growing common chronic disease.
Diabetes is the main cause of new blindness, kidney disease and amputation.
It also contributes to heart disease.
Though these diseases are chronic and deadly, they can often easily be avoided and prevented by living a healthy lifestyle.
Many of these diseases are caused by smoking and poor diets.
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