Many different illnesses and ailments can impact people. At some point in their lives, almost everyone has experienced common ailments like seasonal allergies or an infectious sickness like a stomach virus. Millions of Americans are afflicted by chronic ailments including diabetes and heart disease.
Perhaps one of your friends or family members suffers from a condition that is quite uncommon, such inflammatory bowel disease, which is an autoimmune disease. A severe hereditary disease like cystic fibrosis is much less frequent. Then there are diseases like cancer that have high rates of morbidity and mortality.
Historical speaking, there have been numerous pandemics and epidemics in both the United States and the rest of the world. The COVID epidemic, which was first reported to the World Health Organization in 2019, and the HIV pandemic of the 1980s spring to mind.
Let’s look at some of the ailments and diseases that are most widespread in the US. While some of these illnesses have symptoms, others go unnoticed. The majority of these disorders have diagnoses, treatments, and interventions; however, prevention is essential.
Knowing the most prevalent illnesses in the US may help you spot symptoms early and get treatment as soon as possible. In addition to ensuring healthy living and general well-being, our purpose in sharing this information is to motivate you to take preventive steps and address modifiable risk factors.
What are the top ten illnesses?
HEART ILLNESS
The leading cause of death in the United States, across all racial and gender groupings, is cardiovascular disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It might surprise you to discover that a cardiovascular illness claims one life in the US every 34 seconds. In the United States, there are more than 800,000 heart attacks each year, or one every 40 seconds. One in five deaths in the US are caused by heart disease, which kills about 700,000 lives annually.
CANCER
At the start of 2019, it was anticipated that about 17 million Americans were still alive and had a history of aggressive cancer, many of whom had been treated successfully for several years prior. However, the US experiences an estimated 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses each year. The majority of non-invasive malignancies and basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are not included in this statistic. Approximately 600,000 Americans every year pass away from cancer. This equates to more than 1600 cancer-related fatalities daily. Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death among Americans, closely followed by cancer.
AILMENTS OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
According to the CDC, 5% of American adults suffer from a chronic disease of the lower respiratory system, such as emphysema, COPD, chronic bronchitis, or asthma. Each year, these illnesses result in nearly 870,000 visits to the ER and over 152,000 fatalities. The sixth biggest cause of death in the US is asthma and associated lower respiratory tract illnesses.
OBESITY
America is experiencing a serious obesity problem. Over 42% of Americans, according to the CDC, are fat, and 9% or so are severely obese. Men are more likely than women to be overweight or obese, but men are more likely to be severely fat. Obesity, which is connected to numerous health issues, can be treated with lifestyle modifications like a healthy diet and regular exercise. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is characterized by persistent GI tract inflammation, may also be a problem for certain people.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
An estimated 6.5 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease by 2022. Alzheimer’s disease affects about 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65. Almost three out of every four individuals with this illness are 75 years of age or older. Nearly two thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are female, and women experience the disease at a higher rate than males do. In comparison to Caucasians, Black and Hispanic persons are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. According to experts, there could be more than 12.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050. However, novel therapies and technological advancements could be able to delay or perhaps eliminate this illness.
DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can harm blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and other tissues and organs. Diabetes frequently has no symptoms until the disease is far advanced in a sick person. More over 37 million Americans (more than 11% of the US population) have diabetes. Approximately 1 in 4 diabetics go undetected. In addition, prediabetes affects 96 million persons in the US. Prediabetes affects about half of all persons 65 and older.
ABUSE OF SUBSTANCE
Abusing substances can have negative effects on one’s body as well as their emotions. All ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses are impacted. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 13% of Americans 12 years of age and older report using illicit drugs within the previous month. In the US, more than 25% of adults report daily alcohol use of five or more drinks for men and four or more for women. Additionally, 1.9% of Americans aged 12 and older report using a therapeutic substance for non-medical purposes in the previous month. The most recent data indicate that there are almost 92,000 drug overdose deaths each year in the US, with 20% of these deaths being related to opioid medications.
BACTERIAL DISEASES
Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial illnesses. Many viral infections, like the common cold, have a self-limiting course. Other viral diseases can be treated with antiviral drugs. The following is a list of some of the most common bacterial and viral infectious diseases in the US.
Between 38 and 45 million Americans have experienced a symptomatic influenza disease annually in recent years.
Chlamydia: With over 1.5 million cases anticipated in 2020, this sexually transmitted infection is the most prevalent in the US.
Staphylococcus: Each year, the US reports about 119,000 bloodstream Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infections. Each year, these illnesses cause close to 20,000 fatalities.
Escherichia coli: The bacteria known as E. coli can lead to pneumonia, uti infections, diarrhea, and other disorders. In the US, this huge group of bacteria causes 265,000 infections and about 100 fatalities each year.
HSV: Cold sores (fever blisters) and genital herpes are conditions brought on by the herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. 90% of people have been exposed to the virus by the age of 50, according to experts, and between 50 and 80 percent of American adults have experienced oral herpes. A new case of genital herpes is identified in the US each year in about 575,000 people.
KIDNEY DISEASE, CHRONIC
In the US, 37 million adults (1 in 7 adults) or 15% of the adult population have chronic kidney disease (CKD). It’s interesting to note that up to 90% of persons with CKD, including 40% of those with severe CKD, are unaware of their illness.
MENTAL DISORDERS
At some point in their lives, more than 50% of Americans will receive a mental disease diagnosis. According to experts, 1 in 5 Americans suffers from a mental ailment at some point during the year. A significant mental illness such bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or profound depression affects 1 in 25 Americans.
A conclusion
These are just a few of the ailments that people in the US suffer from most frequently. The majority have health insurance. By getting a quick diagnosis and treatment for these disorders, you can lower your risk of experiencing severe effects.
All types of human ailments, including infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases, are being researched for treatments and cures. Some of these illnesses and ailments might become less prevalent than they are right now in the coming years thanks to developments in research, the creation of new medications, and initiatives to improve healthcare access.