Health is sometimes terribly fragile. The human body is prepared to face the most complicated situations, but it is also highly vulnerable to external agents and its own biological mechanisms

In this article we have made
a list with the most common diseases and pathologies that affect a greater number of people.

The most common genetic diseases

Below you can find the main genetic diseases.

1. Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases, those that affect the heart and blood vessels, are, in many cases, silent killers. In fact, these diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world.

Factors such as high cholesterol or triglycerides over a long period of time can deteriorate our cardiovascular system and cause or trigger this type of disease. Bad habits (e.g. smoking) and obesity also contribute to the development of these diseases.
Angina pectoris or hypertension are some of the conditions that fall within this group .

2. Obesity

Obesity is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a disease and an epidemic . This condition is associated with a multitude of health complications, and scientific data show that it is on the rise, especially in developed countries. Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the causes that influence its development; however, there may be other origins, such as genetic factors.

  • For more information on this topic, please read our article: “Types of Obesity: Characteristics and Risks”

3. Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease with a high prevalence worldwide , in 2015 approximately 400 million cases had been diagnosed worldwide. It is characterized by hyperglycemia (high concentration of blood sugar, ie glucose) and problems resulting from it: cardiovascular problems, kidney, etc. There are different types of diabetes, for example, type I diabetes, type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, etc. (you can go deeper into the types of diabetes by clicking on this link).

  • To find out if you suffer from this disease, in our article “How do I know if I have Diabetes? Main symptoms that warn us” you will find very useful information.

4. Cancer

Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about cancer, since it is one of the most frequent diseases of our times . According to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), last year 220,000 new cases were diagnosed in Spain. Scientific data also estimate that this figure will increase in the future.

Cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the body. Cancer can be benign or malignant, and can occur in different locations in the body: lung, colon, prostate, kidney, etc.

  • There are different types of classification for this disease. You can learn more in our article: “Types of cancer: definition, risks and how they are classified”

5. Asthma

This disease can have different degrees, and is chronic . It occurs in the lungs, when the bronchi become inflamed and make breathing difficult. In severe cases it can be fatal, but many people live a normal life with this disease. The causes of asthma are unclear and there is no cure. According to the WHO, it affects 235 million people worldwide.

6. Cavities

Dental cavities are very frequent among the population , so they are within this list of diseases because they are a very common condition. Cavities occur because the tissues of the teeth are damaged by the presence of bacteria and by demineralization. Its main cause is poor oral hygiene, although hereditary factors also seem to play a role.

7. COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition that causes progressive damage to the respiratory system, making it difficult and less able to inhale air. It can lead to chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and its main cause is smoking. More than 18,000 people die in Spain every year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics.

8. Influenza

Everyone, at some point in our lives, has suffered from the flu . An illness that, in most cases, does not represent major complications, except for vulnerable people, such as the elderly. Headache, vomiting, fever and discomfort are some of the symptoms that appear when the disease manifests itself.

9. Liver diseases

There are many liver diseases, and they all have different causes . For example, by viruses, in the case of hepatitis; by drugs or toxins such as alcohol, in the case of cirrhosis… Many of these disorders can have serious consequences if not treated correctly and can even cause death.

10. Stress

Stress has been baptized as the disease of the 21st century, and although it affects our emotional and psychic health , it has serious consequences on a physical level. Millions of people around the globe suffer from stress, which can have many causes. A very common form of stress is that which occurs at work, among which are occupational stress and burnout.

The latter phenomenon occurs when stress is prolonged in time and causes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of fulfillment (decreased personal self-esteem, frustrated expectations, motivation and manifestations of stress at the physiological, cognitive and behavioral levels).

  • You can learn more about this condition in our article: “Burnout Syndrome: How to Detect and Take Action”