When illness strikes, it is an expensive affair, especially for people who are living in developing countries where, even accessing clean drinking water and sanitation is a daily struggle. For those who live in the developed world, medicine and healthcare are relatively accessible to countries like USA investing over $1 trillion in medicine and around $16,000 in health insurance. According to the World Health Organization then, what are the main causes of death in both the developed and developing countries.
Here are top 10 leading causes of death in the world
12. Tuberculosis (TB)
A bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. TB is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
11. Kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to the gradual loss of kidney function over time, often caused by conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
10. Prematurity
It causes around 1.2 million deaths every year and with the US alone spending $26 billion shillings per year to curb it. The World Health Organization reports that, over 15 million babies are born prematurely every year, that is, before they reach week 37. Out of these, over a million of them die due to complications associated with preterm birth. Babies born prematurely in developing countries are 10 times more prone to death than the developed world.
9. Road Carnage
According to WHO, 1.3 million deaths are caused annually through accidents on the road. In today’s world, there are over 1 billion cars on the roads and almost 3400 people are killed daily and with millions others injured or disabled permanently due to this road accident. 91% of these deaths occur in low and middle countries.
8. Respiratory Cancer
Globally, 1.5 million people die from respiratory cancer. About $180 billion of the global economy is used to tame them. Lung cancer is the number one cause of respiratory cancer in the USA and costs its economy $12.1 billion yearly
7. HIV/AIDS
Every year, at least 1.6 million people die globally due to HIV/AIDS related complications. This costs the global economy approximately $29.7 billion annually for preferred antiretroviral therapy.
6. Lung Cancer
It causes around 1.6 million deaths yearly with cigarette smoking being the number one cause of lung cancer, thus it is pretty much easy to tame this disease.
- Read Also: 10 Most Dangerous Non-curable Cancer
5. Diarrheal Diseases
Globally, 1.9 million people die from diarrheal diseases. Though they are treatable and even preventable, it is the second largest killer disease of children under five years globally with approximately 760,000 children dying yearly. It is caused by poor sanitation and contaminated drinking water. The lack of access to sanitation costs the global economy over $260 billion yearly, which is more than Chile’s GDP.
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD refers to the chronic disease of the lungs, such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. The primary causes are smoking, which in the long run, damages the lungs, inflaming and irritating them. Over 3 million people globally die from the disease. The symptoms include breathlessness, chest infections and persistent coughing. It costs the United States alone, $50 billion per year. According to the European Respiratory Society, COPD and other lung conditions are responsible for every 1 in 10 deaths in Europe.
3. Lower Respiratory Infection
At times referred to as Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTIs), it includes tuberculosis, flu, and pneumonia. Globally, over 3.2 million people die annually from LRTIs with approximately 50,000 from the USA. According to Centers for Disease Control and prevention and World Health Organization, 95% of the TB deaths happen in middle and low income countries.
2. Stroke
According to the National Stroke Association, it is estimated that, over 6.2 million people die from stroke. Stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Signs that one is having a stroke includes; inability to speak, slurred speech, drooping on one side of the face, and unable to lift arms up. It is the number one cause of disability in the UK and in the US, more than 130,000 people die annually from stroke related complications. Causes of stroke are poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of exercise, and age.
1. Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary Heart Disease)
Every year, the disease claims over 7 million people globally. It is estimated that, between 1990 and 2020, the incidences of coronary heart disease and stroke will surpass 145%. In the US $108.9 billion is spent each year on health care and indirect economic costs like absence from work. The UK spends around $2 billion yearly for treating coronary heart disease.
Now that you know the top 10 diseases which are a threat to the human race, why not share the information with your friends on social media so that they too, can be enlightened?
