Top 10 Common Deadliest Diseases in India- Why is Health Insurance Important?

Stressful lifestyles, fast-paced life, and inadequate healthcare knowledge have affected many people’s health in India. Unluckily, this has turned into fatal events, leaving the family marooned in many cases. Over the past few years, the healthcare industry has changed a lot. Still, many deadly diseases are occurring in India every year. The treatment costs for these diseases are also high. You should try to enhance your knowledge by knowing the names of diseases. If you have a family history of various deadly types of diseases, then you can purchase a health insurance policy along with critical insurance to stay protected against the most dangerous diseases.

If you didn’t take any step in this direction, this is the time to start it. The deadliest diseases in India may happen at various body parts and based on their severity, they may turn critical.

List of Top 10 Deadliest Diseases in India

Here, we are going to mention the list of the most common diseases in India.

1. COVID-19

The COVID-19 or coronavirus is one of the top 10 deadliest infectious diseases globally. This disease has hit the world in 2019 and affect many people. Nearly 5.24 lakh people in India have lost their lives in the past two years. In 2020, the government of India has launched two COVID-19 health insurance policies (Corona Kavach and Corona Rakshak) that will cover your entire medical and hospitalization expenses.

The disease is transmitted from an infected person (through droplets when he coughs, sneezes, or speaks) to others. Though this virus produces mild respiratory illness, it can be severe in people who have cardiovascular issues, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

Symptoms of COVID-19

• Severe cold
• Headache
• Fever
• Body Pain
• Loss of taste and smell
• Scratchy throat

Preventive Measures of COVID-19

• Vaccination
• Follow a healthy diet
• Wash your hands frequently
• Maintain social distancing
• Wear a mask while going outside

2. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD)

Cardiovascular diseases affect your heart and they are one of the pivotal causes of death in India.

Symptoms of Cardiovascular Diseases 

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain and discomfort
• Pain in the upper abdomen, neck, back, throat, jaw
• Pain or numbness in your arms, and legs

Causes of Cardiovascular Diseases

• Excessive smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Improper diet
• Hereditary
• High BP or Cholesterol
• Obese
• Family history of CVD

To prevent CVD, eat healthy food items like fish, walnuts, almonds, oats, carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers, tomatoes, kale, broccoli, etc.  Also, do regular exercises to maintain a healthy weight.

3. Diabetes

This is one of the common diseases in humans. Two types of diabetes are there (type 1 and type 2). In type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce adequate insulin. In type 2 diabetes, insulin produced by your body is not effectively utilized.

Symptoms of Diabetes

• Frequent urge to urination
• Enhanced hunger and thirst
• Weight loss
• Extreme fatigue

Preventive Measures for Diabetes

• Do physical activities regularly
• Follow a healthy diet
• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Quit smoking and restrict alcohol consumption
• Monitor your blood glucose level

4. Respiratory Diseases

This disease may lead to death, especially in children. Asthma, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., are some of the most common respiratory diseases. Air pollution is one of the prime causes of respiratory diseases.

Causes of Respiratory Diseases

• Excessive exposure to toxic substances
• Dust
• Air pollution
• Smoking
• Lower immunity levels

Symptoms of Respiratory Diseases

• Cough
• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Fever
• Shortness of breath

Preventive Measures for Respiratory Diseases

• If you need to travel in polluted areas, cover your face
• Quit smoking
• To enhance your immunity level, take vitamins and minerals
• Do deep breathing exercises

5. Malignant and Other Tumors

Tumors are also common and cause death in people. People experience the symptoms of tumors in the later stage. Initially, it starts with a painless lump.

Symptoms of Malignant Tumor

• Painless lump

Preventive Measures for Malignant Tumor

• Follow regular life standards
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get regular immunization
• Stay active physically
• Quit smoking

Cancer is the deadliest disease and you need to invest a lot of money in its treatments. But if you have a health policy, this will reduce your financial burden to some extent.

6. Tuberculosis (TB)

This infectious disease mainly affects your lungs. But with advanced medical treatment, this disease is curable and preventable. 

Symptoms of Tuberculosis

• Fatigue
• Blood while coughing  
• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss      
• Causes of Tuberculosis

Causes of Tuberculosis

• Poor immune system
• Traveling or living in certain areas 
• Friends and family of the infected person    

Preventive Measures for Tuberculosis

• Stay away from people who are already infected with the disease
• High risks should get screened
• Vaccinations to stop the spread of the disease

7. Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

Though in Alzheimer’s you may lose your memory, in some cases, your life is also threatened.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

• Difficulty in accomplishing daily tasks
• Misplacing things 
• Problems with words in writing or speaking
• Inferior judgment and decision making
• Inability to manage budget

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease

• Family history
• Old age
• Unwholesome lifestyle
• Previous head trauma
• Leading an unsocial life for a long period

Preventive Measures for Alzheimer’s Disease

• Follow a heart-healthy diet (incorporate fruits and veggies in your diet)
• Avoid fatty food (Meat, dairy products, olive oil, lean fish, etc.)
• Discard smoking
• Control of cardiovascular risk factors

8. Malaria

Malaria is one of the common diseases in India which is caused by Plasmodium parasite transmission by mosquitoes.

Symptoms of Malaria

• Fever
• Muscle ache
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Diarrhea

Preventive Measures for Malaria

• Use insect repellent
• Wear full-sleeved clothes while going
• Use bed net while sleeping
• Eat food items like carrot, papaya, beetroots, fruits especially citrus fruits

9. Diarrheal Diseases

Diarrhea happens when you pass loose stools more than three times in a day. This minimizes the water and salt levels in your body and makes you weak. If it continues for several days, you may experience dehydration.

Symptoms of Diarrheal Disease

• Watery stool
• Mucus in the stool
• Bloating 
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain, cramps
• Blood in the stool

Causes of Diarrheal Diseases

• Unhygienic water
• Areas with poor sanitation facilities
• Malnourishment
• Inferior immune system 

10. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is a long-term lung disease that causes breathing difficulties in patients.

Symptoms of COPD

• Wheezing
• Chest stiffness
• Lethargy
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Inflammation in ankles, legs or feet
• Shortness of breath 

Causes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Smoking or second-hand smoke
• Chemical fumes and various lung irritants
• Family history of COPD
• Respiratory infections in childhood

Preventive Measures for COPD

• Avoid smoking
• Know your family history
• Stay protected against fumes, and chemicals at home or work
• Avoid air pollution

Buy Health Insurance and Stay Financially Protected

A health insurance policy will offer you financial support to manage your treatment against these deadliest conditions. So, purchase a health policy to strengthen and secure your life and stay protected against various life-threatening diseases.

Conclusion

We mentioned the list of diseases that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. Improper knowledge and unhygienic living conditions are the prime causes of such diseases. You should try to take preventive measures to stay protected against these diseases. Also, buy a health insurance plan after thorough research to get financial aid to deal with these diseases.