Common Diseases & Cures


At the beginning of the 20th century, life expectancy of human was 47.3 years, which increased to 77.85 years in the century after. According to the US Census Bureau[1], this raise in the life expectancy occurred largely due to the developments in treatments for deadly diseases and vaccinations.

A person throughout his/her lifetime gets sick and ill for numerous times due to many reasons. Every single human suffers from diseases every now and then. Thankfully, there are diseases, which can be cured by taking ample rest and medication. The person suffering returns to their daily activities after a day or two in such cases. But there are other severe diseases, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, which lasts for quite a longer duration and needs to be treated differently; preferably with care and caution.

Diseases have many roots and avenues:
A disease can be defined as any abnormal condition that affects the human body; it is often associated with certain signs and symptoms[2]. Diseases are caused from both internal and external sources. Diseases usually cause pain, distress, dysfunction and even death to the affected person. The effected person does not only suffer physically, but at times emotionally as well, since it might lead to altering his or her way of living and personality as well2.

While there are almost countless numbers of diseases, some are more common than the other. Among the most common diseases a person suffers several times during his/her lifespan includes fever, headache, food poisoning, diarrhea, malaria and respiratory infection among others. These common diseases can attack a person any time during lifetime, during any season. Due to the advancement of the medical science, this can be cured easily.

Here is a list of common diseases and its cures:

Colds and flu:
Colds and flu are rather common diseases3. A person might suffer from cold or flu every two to three months. It is so common that people often cannot remember the last time they suffered from these diseases. Unless colds or flu is lasting for over a week, there is no need to worry or to consult a doctor. Taking adequate rest, drinking a lot of water, drinking a lot of juice and eating fruits can cure colds and flu.

Migraine and headaches:
There are many people suffering from migraine and headaches every now and then. Headaches can also cause the patient to feel really bad and distressed. Taking rest or just lying down with eyes closed for a while can at times relieve headaches. If it is too severe, applying balms such as tiger balm[3] can relieve pain and make the person feel better in quite time. But it the pain is too much to tackle or too regular than the patient should go for medication.

Chicken pox:
Chicken pox is a very common disease; it is caused by varicella-zoster virus1. A person suffering from chicken pox would have itchy rash of small red bumps on the skin. The virus of this disease can without difficulty spread if a person suffering from the disease sneezes or coughs near a person who is non-immune to the disease. The virus can also pass if someone comes in contact with the pox blister fluid. Paracetamol and/or ibuprofen are used to reduce fever of the affected person, while calamine lotion or antihistamines are prescribed to the person to reduce the itching[4].

Diphtheria:
Diphtheria is another bacteria borne disease that mainly affects the throat and nose1. The disease bacteria can spread through personal items that are shared between people and also through airborne droplets. The cure for this disease is antibiotic does from prescribed doctors. Approximately 10% of the people suffering from diphtheria die even with proper treatment. To kill the bacteria inside the body, antibiotics are given[5] by the doctors. If the case is severe, the person suffering from this disease is kept in isolation so that it does not spread and others are not infected. The best way to avoid diphtheria is by vaccination. It is advised that everyone should get a new vaccination after every 10 years to reinforce the protection.

Invasive H flu:
Invasive H flu is a common disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. The bacterium spreads as the infected person speaks, sneezes or coughs1. Invasive H flu can lead to bacterial meningitis, epigolottitis, pericardium (the covering of the heart), blood infections and pneumonia. Children below age of 5 years are normally susceptible to this disease due to their underdeveloped immune system.

Malaria:
Malaria is caused by mosquitoes and infects the red blood cells and liver1. There are several drugs to treat malaria. While some prevents from being infected, while others kill the parasites once they are in the blood.

Food poisoning:
Another very common disease is food poisoning which results from having foods that contains germs[6]. Food poisoning causes upset stomach, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Unwashed vegetables, raw foods and foods from animals such as milk, poultry, shellfish, and meat – all contain germs and can cause food poisoning. One might start to feel sick within hours after having bad food, while others might have it after a few days. In most cases the patient does not need to take any medicine to get cured. However, if the case is serious, for example if the affected person gets dehydrated by losing too much of fluid due to vomiting and diarrhea, he might need to be taken to the hospital where he will be given medicines and fluids through an IV. In order to avoid getting dehydrated while suffering from food poisoning, it is best to drink a lot of water and juice.

Food poisoning can be avoided if the foods are prepared, cooked and stored properly7. Washing the vegetables and fruits properly before eating, eating properly cooked foods, not eating foods or drinking (such as milk) that smell, properly heating leftover foods before consumption and not eating expired foods are some of the good ways food poisoning can be avoided.

Pneumonia:
Many people around the world suffer from pneumonia[7]. Pneumonia is a lung disease where the affected person's lungs are unable to do their usual job. The infection creates fluid and blocks alveoli, making it hard for oxygen to go deep into the lungs and pass on to the blood. The person suffering from pneumonia finds it hard to breathe if both the lungs are infected. Pneumonia can happen at any stage of life. Pneumonia is caused by either bacteria or virus. If it is caused by bacteria, the doctors generally prescribe antibiotics. If it is severe where the patient is unable to take medicine, treatment is provided through intravenous IV line. If it is caused by virus, there is no point in taking antibiotics, as they simply won't work. Doctors usually just prescribe medicines to reduce fever and cough. Whatever the cause of pneumonia is, it is best to take ample rest and drink a lot of fluids.

Knowledge is power:
There are a lot of people around the world who quickly turn to their doctors when there is a slightest sign of illness. This is good. Ignorance can be very dangerous at times. Many people do not know that drugs do not always guarantee a cure and may at times causes more harm than any good[8]. For examples, if a person, suffering from diarrhea takes antibiotics; his condition might aggravate and make him suffer more. For this reason, it is highly advisable to know about effects of drugs taken.

Abstract: Life expectancy had increase by a perceptible margin in the recent times, largely due to the developments in treatments for deadly diseases and vaccinations. People suffer from diseases every now and then. Diseases are caused from both internal and external sources. Diseases usually cause pain, distress, dysfunction and even death to the affected person. There are diseases, which can be cured by taking ample rest and simple medication. Common diseases have simple cures.

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