There was a time when you probably would not have thought twice about being a bit overweight, smoking, drinking and partying into the wee hours. However, the last few decades have seen millions of people the world over die from different kinds of killer diseases. Men and women are more aware that environmental changes and unhealthy lifestyles can, and do, affect the health. Here are three of the top killer diseases you should know more about:

Cardiovascular diseases

– Nearly 17 million people annually around the world are affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) – the main ones being strokes and heart attacks. Heart problems are, in fact, the No. 1 cause of death and can affect both men and women of any age or background. If you smoke, lead a sedentary lifestyle or don’t follow a balanced diet, you could become a part of those figures. Statistics show that smoking raises the risk factor of your dying from a CVD or cerebrovascular ailment by two or three times the normal rate. Other things that contribute to CVDs are obesity, stress, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Cancer

– Nearly every day, approximately 20,000 people die from cancer around the world. This disease has now become one of the most common after CVDs. Men and women suffer from different types of cancer; women from breast, lung, colon and cancer of the uterus and men from prostate, lung, colon, bladder, mouth, throat and stomach cancer. Every day we get to hear that a new strain or cause for cancer has been found. Some of these are controllable. One of the ways you can avoid contracting, or at least lowering the risk, the disease is to stay away from cigarette smoking and try to live a stress-free life.

HIV/AIDS

– Almost 33-and-half million people world-wide live with HIV at the moment. AIDS is the final stage of the disease that is caused by HIV, which breaks down the body’s immunity leaving you susceptible to other illnesses and infections. A common cold could be fatal. It is contagious and three decades after the world came to learn of it, a cure is yet to be found. However, many people with HIV live long fulfilling lives by using antiretroviral drugs and keeping themselves healthy. The highest risk group is gay and bisexual men. You can contract HIV/AIDS via blood transfusion, by having unprotected sex, using dirty/used needles and by getting an infected person’s blood into your open wound.

The above are just three of the many diseases that kill; others being infectious diseases, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diarrhea and measles. The irony is that most can be cured or prevented. The only person responsible for your health is you. If you haven’t already, it is time you began exercising and eating healthy. Most important, an annual health check is a must so that if anything needs to be detected, it will be detected early and you will be able to seek help quickly.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our Infection Control Training and Bloodborne Pathogen Training websites.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: HIV/AIDS,Cancer,Cardiovascular diseases ,drinking,smoking,overweight,Killer Diseases