Common Health Problems and its Causes

What are Health Problems

Health problems are conditions or illnesses that negatively affect a person's physical, mental, or emotional well-being. They can range from temporary issues like a cold or flu to chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.

Recently, one of the major issues in the world is Health. In many countries, the environment is not clean to live in as well as, and there is no clean air to breathe, and no clean water to drink. People`s financial condition is not good, and the Government does not facilitate them properly.

The health issues in underdeveloped countries cause diseases that are difficult to treat due to a lack of resources and economic conditions. We are faced with a lot of health problems, such as;

Common Health Problems

1# Mental Health:

2# Immunization:

3# Diabetes:

4# Cancer:

5# Heart Disease:

6# Overweight & Obesity:

7# HIV/AIDS:

8# Drug Addiction:

9# Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:

10# Hepatitis:

1 # Mental Health:

The World Health Organization defines mental health as a "State of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community."

A mental illness can destroy your daily life, such as at school, work, or in a relationship.

Examples of mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders, are widespread.

Causes:

Sometimes it is inherited from parents. Certain genes may increase your risk of developing a mental illness, and life situations may trigger it.

Environmental stress also has an effect on the human brain, in some cases, brain damage due to any brain injury leads to mental illness.

2 # Immunization:

According to PAHO, "immunization is the process whereby a person is made resistant to a disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine." A vaccine stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, by mimicking an infection without causing the disease itself. This helps the body build immunity, often resulting in long-lasting protection against specific diseases.

Immunization prevents diseases, disabilities, and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus diarrheal disease, etc.

There are some vaccines like

• Toxoid vaccines.
• Inactivated vaccines.
• viral vector vaccine.
• Live attenuated vaccines.
• Messenger RNA(mRNA)vaccines.

In underdeveloped countries, a shortage of vaccines is the reason for the spread of chronic diseases, and children are not properly vaccinated.

Healthcare provider barriers to immunization include a lack of knowledge about indications for and contraindications to immunization, poorly trained medical staff, and the absence of a reminder system for missed vaccinations. The physician must clearly communicate to parents and medical staff that the vaccine is provided to the children on time and according to published guidelines.

3 # Diabetes:

Nowadays, diabetes has become the most common disease; in some cases, it is by birth, and in others, it develops diabetes later in life. In diabetes, your pancreas does not make enough insulin, or your body is not responding to the effects of insulin properly. With time, a diabetic person faces a lot of complications, diabetes invites other diseases, such as kidney disease, nerve damage, eye damage, cardiovascular disease, skin conditions, depression, and more. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

According to expert predictions, this number will rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

Causes:

• A family history of diabetes.
• Insulin resistance.
• Unhealthy diet.
• Pancreas damage.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
• Age.
• Genes.

4 # Cancer:

In cancer, some of the body's cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. It can develop anywhere in the body. These abnormal cells are termed cancer cells. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with millions of people diagnosed every year. Cancer can develop in nearly any part of the body and can affect a wide range of tissues and organs. The key characteristic of cancer is the uncontrolled growth and division of cells, which can form masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia, which affects the blood and bone marrow and doesn’t form solid tumors). 

 According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, and 597,690 people die from this disease.

 

Causes:

• Smoking and drinking are causes of cancer.
• Exposure to the sun.
• Overweight and Obesity.
• Infectious disease.
• Genetics or inherited cancers.
• Immunosuppression.

5 # Heart disease:

 It is a leading cause of death globally, responsible for millions of deaths each year. The term "heart disease" encompasses a variety of different diseases, some of which are congenital (present at birth) and others that develop over time due to lifestyle, genetic, or environmental factors.

Coronary artery disease(CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries that move oxygen-rich blood through the heart and lungs. Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the heart rate is too fast or too slow, and heart failure is a condition where your heart is not pumping as well as it should be.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the world.

Causes:

• Unhealthy eating habits have been linked to heart disease.
• Lack of exercise.
• Overweight and Obesity.
• Smoking and Drinking.
•  Family history also matters. 

6 # Overweight & Obesity: 

Overweight and obesity are conditions characterized by excess body fat that can negatively affect health. Overweight is defined as a 15 to 20 percent increase over ideal body weight, and obesity is the increase in body weight that is greater than 20 percent of an individual's ideal body weight. Body mass index(BMI) is a simple index of weight for height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in humans.

Both conditions are linked to a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and other chronic diseases. These conditions are increasingly prevalent worldwide and have significant social, economic, and health impacts.

Causes:

• Genetics.
• Stress and emotional factors.
• Junk food or heavy-calorie food.
• Lack of sleep.
• Lack of exercise.

7 # HIV/AIDS:

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and understanding the difference between the two is crucial in understanding the progression of the disease and its management. HIV(human immunodeficiency virus)attacks the body's immune system. HIV targets the body's white blood cells, which weakens the immune system. AIDS(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)is the most severe form of HIV infection.

There is currently no cure for HIV, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) has revolutionized the treatment and management of HIV. ART involves taking a combination of HIV medications (usually 3 or more drugs) to reduce the amount of virus in the body, prevent the virus from replicating, and improve immune function.

Causes:

It is a sexually transmitted infection. HIV can be transmitted when needles, syringes, or other injection equipment are shared among people who inject drugs.HIV can be transmitted during labor and delivery when the baby comes into contact with the mother's infected blood or vaginal fluids. The virus can also cross the placenta and infect the fetus, spreading from mother to child. 

8 # Drug Addiction:

Drug addiction is a common problem all over the world today. Regular use of drugs creates different health issues, such as permanent mental and physical damage. There are many forms of drug addiction, but the most dangerous forms of drugs that affect the body and disturb the mind include heroin, marijuana, tobacco, valium, cocaine, and alcohol.

Rehabilitation centers are the best places for the recovery process of addicts. These centers provide complete medical and mental support to addicted people.

Causes:

Drug addiction is caused by environmental factors such as;

• Bad company and do experiments in the name of adventure.
• People want an escape from responsibilities.
• Trouble in the domestic background. 

9# Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):

Polycystic ovary syndrome is basically a hormonal imbalance; it occurs when the ovaries create excess hormones. Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and may have small cysts on the ovaries. Due to imbalanced hormones, women have irregular menstrual cycles, missed periods, and unpredictable ovulation. PCOS is the major cause of excess hair growth, acne, weight gain, and infertility in women.

Causes:

The main cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not clear. Women have androgens, which are also called male hormones. If it increases, it creates small cysts in the ovaries. PCOS may be associated with the environment, lifestyle, genetics, and family history.

10 # Hepatitis:

Hepatitis is the swelling and inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of infectious viruses. The liver is the main organ of the human body, filtering the blood and fighting infections. There are five main types of the hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E. In particular, types B and C are the most dangerous and major causes of death; an estimated 354 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C.

Some types of hepatitis can be controlled by vaccination. The World Health Organization's new strategy, endorsed by all WHO member states, aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.

Causes:

• Liver damage from alcohol.
• Some medications or certain medical conditions.
• Immune cells attack the liver.
• Infections from viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
• Fatty liver.

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