According to a report from the WHO, the following diseases have caused the most deaths worldwide for the past 15 to 20 years. Ironically, most of these conditions progress slowly and are preventable. However, they remain fatal because patients fail to seek out quality healthcare on time; either due to ignorance or lack of access.
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- Coronary Artery Disease
CAD is caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood. When untreated, coronary artery disease leads to arrhythmias and heart failure. Risk factors include smoking, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and a family history of CAD.
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- Stroke
When an artery in the brain leaks (or is blocked), the brain cells become deprived of oxygen and the cells die, leading to a stroke. A stroke causes long-term disability and its risk factors include a family history of stroke, hypertension, and excessive smoking. Women have a higher risk than men.
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- Lower Respiratory Infections
These are viral or bacterial infections that affect the lungs and the airways, and if untreated, they cause breathing failure and death. Common examples are influenza, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Risk factors are constant exposure to lung irritants, smoking, HIV, asthma, etc.
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- COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive lung disease that causes breathing difficulty. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the 2 major types and between the years of 2000 -2015, COPD was responsible for over 5% of deaths globally. The condition is prevalent in people that had a respiratory infection in their childhood and risk factors include smoking and exposure to lung irritants.
Internal Medical Diagnostic Center in Texas provides acute care for adults suffering from COPD, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, and stroke. Call 281-252-8600 to make an appointment immediately.