What is Critical Illness - Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

More than 5 million critical care patients are admitted to hospitals annually in the US. Besides this, according to a study, a 25-year old male smoker has a 49% chance of developing a critical illness before the age of 65. In contrast, a 25-year non-smoker male has about a 24% chance of developing a critical illness. Among critical illnesses, respiratory, cardiac, and neurologic conditions among adult ICU patients are most common.

So, if you are interested to learn more about critical illness, consider reading further.

Critical illness can be defined as a life-threatening health condition which demands mechanical and/or pharmacological support of crucial organs without which a patient can die. This type of health condition can severely impact lifestyle, and some of the most common examples include diabetes, heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer etc.

With rapid urbanisation of your society, the quality of lifestyle, environment and our diet has deteriorated considerably. In India, 5 major critical illnesses are most common in elderly and adult people. Those are –

Lung Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), also known as lung disease, took nearly 1 million lives in 2017. This is relatively common among adults above 45 years old, and it constitutes about 3.6% of the general population of that age. This disease destroys the air sacks and inflames the airways within the lungs. Among the total COPD, about 80%-90% is the result of smoking.

Heart Disease

This causes the most number of deaths in developing countries, including India. In addition, heart disease can vary with age and the place of residence of an individual. Besides this, heart problems can arise from 4 fundamental reasons, which include smoking, body mass index, blood glucose level and systolic blood pressure.

Kidney Diseases

Around 100,000 patients are diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease every year in India. This disease is more frequent in males than females, and primary triggering factors include alcohol, smoking, an unhealthy diet, and obesity.

Liver Diseases

Liver diseases are one of the primary critical illnesses in India, and an estimated 50 million people suffer from it worldwide. Although numerous liver diseases are diagnosed among patients, a few common types are cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Cancer

Cancer is the second-deadliest killer on this list after heart disease. About 4,13,519 men and 3,71,302 women were killed in India in 2018. Among different types, the most common are oral cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancers. These 5 types make up about 47% of the total cancers in India.

Anyone with irregular and unhealthy habits can develop a critical illness in today's lifestyle. The risk factors for critical illness can differ as per the illness. For example, if a person smokes, they are likely to develop cancer, and heart and lung disease. Whereas if an individual consumes alcohol heavily, they are likely to develop cancer and kidney problems. Also, irregular diet, unhealthy foods, age and genetics play a significant part in developing a critical illness.

Developing a lung, heart, kidney or liver problem can be a sign of critical illness. However, they might not need critical care unless it becomes severe. Also, as this is a fairly common disease, it is essential to consult a doctor to diagnose your problem correctly. On the other hand, a person might need critical care if they are diagnosed with –

• Heart failure
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Serious infections
• Respiratory failure
• Kidney failure
• People recovering from certain major surgeries
• Sepsis
• Severe bleeding
• Shock

The causes of critical illness depend on its type. A detailed cause of it is provided below –

1. Lung Disease

A person is more likely to develop a lung disease if –

• An individual is a regular smoker
• They are heavily exposed to toxins and lung irritants in the air for hours
• They use solid fuels like cow dung and wood for cooking
• An individual lives in a highly polluted city

2. Heart Disease

People are prone to cardiovascular diseases if –

• Individuals have high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure
• They have limited physical activity in their daily life
• They consume tobacco regularly
• An individual is a habitual drinker or smoker
• They have an imbalanced diet
• They are obese or overweight
• An individual lives a stressful life

3. Kidney Diseases

A few causes of kidney diseases include –

• High diabetes and blood pressure
• Gender, as males are more likely to suffer from kidney diseases
• Above 60 years old
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Unhealthy diet

4. Liver Diseases

Primary causes of liver diseases include –

• Drinking heavily
• Not exercising
• Consuming fatty foods regularly
• Smoking or consuming drugs

5. Cancer

Cancers can happen due to many reasons depending upon their location. However, some of the primary factors of cancer include –

• Smoking and drinking alcohol
• Use  of tobacco-related products
• Unhealthy diet
• Exposure to harmful radiation and chemicals
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Consumption of pan masala

Critical illness can be diagnosed in multiple ways. For example, heart disease can be diagnosed by Electrocardiogram, Cardiac computerised tomography (CT) scan or a Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Similarly, depending on the illness, the diagnosis varies. However, a few of the general methods of diagnosis include blood tests, imaging tests, urine tests etc.

Hence, it is essential to understand that critical illness is a broad term, and multiple problems are included in this. Although a modern irregular lifestyle is a triggering factor for critical illness, it can be controlled through a proper lifestyle. However, it is essential to remember that before taking any medications or trying home remedies, it is crucial to consult a medical professional to properly diagnose the problem and its severity.

Treatment for critical illness depends on its severity, condition and type. Not every critical illness is treated in the same way. Details regarding their treatment are provided below –

1. Treatment for Lung Diseases

Medical professionals can treat the treatment for lung disease with medications or by –

• CT-Scan guided lung biopsy
• Lobectomy
• Thoracotomy
• Lung transplant
• Lung volume reduction surgery
• Bronchoscopy, etc.

However, individuals can also use oxygen at home, which must be performed under medical advice only.

2. Treatment for Heart Diseases

Medications can treat heart diseases without the need for significant surgeries. However, if medications are not enough, they can proceed towards heart surgery.

3. Treatment for Kidney Diseases

Although during the initial stages, medications might be fruitful, but if it doesn't work, doctors might advise a surgical procedure. End-stage kidney disease treatment includes kidney transplant or dialysis.

4. Treatment for Liver Diseases

Liver treatment highly depends on the severity of the illness. Initial stages can be treated with lifestyle changes. But, medications and liver transplants might be inevitable during the end stages.

5. Treatment for Cancer

Cancer can be treated in many ways. Some of the common treatments include –

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Radiation
• Immunotherapy
• Hyperthermia
• Hormonal therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Laser therapy

It is possible to prevent certain critical illnesses through a proper lifestyle. For instance, a healthy and balanced diet with proper exercise can boost an individual's overall health. Also, quitting alcohol consumption and smoking tobacco can help prevent critical illness considerably.