Know About the 10 Most Common Non-communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases refer to body conditions that are not caused by an acute infection but require prolonged care and treatment and long-term health consequences.

Want to know more about the list of non-communicable diseases and their details? Read along!

Individuals should know that the meaning of non-communicable diseases itself depicts diseases that are not spread through any medium. These are also known as chronic diseases, and as mentioned above, these tend to have a long duration. These diseases result from a combination of environmental, behavioural, genetic and physiological factors. The main types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of heart conditions that include disorders of the heart, and cause structural problems and blood clots.

Causes:

A few causes of cardiovascular diseases include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Inactivity
• Being overweight or obese
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Someone having cardiovascular diseases in the family

Symptoms:

A few symptoms that individuals go through while having a cardiovascular disease are as follows:

• Individuals might get chest pain, chest discomfort, chest pressure and chest tightness.
• They might also face shortness of breath.
• Individuals might also experience numbness, pain, coldness and weakness in their legs and arms when the blood vessels of those areas are narrowed.
• Apart from that, individuals also face pain in the jaw, upper abdomen, neck, throat or back. 

Treatment:

Few treatment options for cardiovascular disease include:

The initial treatment that most health professionals suggest is medication. These medications are prescribed to improve blood flow, regular heartbeats and to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Another treatment includes cardiac rehabilitation, and that includes lifestyle counselling and exercise prescriptions.

The third kind of treatment includes replacement surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, or valve repair.

Ways to Prevent:

One can prevent cardiovascular diseases by following the given rules.

• Avoid smoking or tobacco.
• Consume a diet that is heart-healthy.
• Exercise and move one’s body regularly for 30-60 minutes and also maintain healthy weight.
• Get a good quality sleep and avoid stress
• One should also go for regular heart and health check-ups.

Cancer is a health condition where abnormal cells in the body divide in an uncontrollable way and destroy body tissue.

Causes:

The main causes of cancer include:

• Smoking and tobacco
• Radiation from the sun and other UV rays
• Unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity
• Viruses and other infections
• Genetics and if someone from the family has cancer

Symptoms:

Symptoms that an individual might experience if he/she has cancer are:

• Fatigue and tiredness
• Changes in weight, can be unintended weight gain or weight loss
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising
• Changes in bowel habits or bladder
• Lumps in the skin or a particular area thickening under the skin
• Changes in skin, such as darkening, yellowing or redness of the skin, or if existing moles experience some changes, sores that do not heal
• Persistent cough, indigestion, unexplainable muscle and joint pain, unexplainable night sweats or fever
• Hoarseness

Treatment:

The treatment method for cancer includes the following methods.

• Surgery
• Bone marrow transplant
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted drug therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Clinical trials
• Cryoablation

Ways to Prevent:

One can prevent cancer by following the given-

• The primary way to prevent cancer is to stop using and consuming any kind of tobacco.
• The second way is to maintain and eat a healthy diet
• One should also protect themselves from the sun's harmful UV rays.
• One should get vaccinated against hepatitis and HPV virus which are major threats to cancer.
• Individuals should also avoid risky behaviours and stay safe.
• Regular medical checkups and self-care can also help one prevent cancer.

Chronic respiratory diseases are chronic diseases caused in the airways and other parts of the lung.

Causes:

The reasons that cause chronic respiratory disease are as follows:

The main cause of chronic respiratory disease is tobacco consumption in developed countries. However, other than direct inhalation of tobacco in developing countries, second-hand smoke also leads to chronic respiratory diseases.

For example, heating and long-time exposure to smoke from burning fuel for cooking in poor ventilation conditions also lead to chronic respiratory diseases.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of this disease include:

• Chest tightness
• Lack of energy
• Unintended weight loss
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Wheezing
• A chronic cough that might produce mucus (sputum which can be yellowish, clear, white or greenish in colour)
• Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
• Shortness of breath during physical activities

Treatment:

The treatment procedure for chronic respiratory disease includes the following:

• Quitting smoking habits
• Lung therapies which include oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation program
• Management of exacerbations
• Surgery procedures which include lung transplant, bullectomy and lung volume reduction surgery
• Medications and steroids

Ways to Prevent:

To prevent chronic respiratory diseases, one should maintain the following-

• One should avoid smoking.
• One should minimise his/her exposure to external air pollution.
• Individuals should also avoid getting exposed to indoor pollutants which can damage one’s lungs.
• One should also exercise regularly and go for regular health check-ups.

Diabetes is a health condition which occurs when one’s blood sugar level is too high.

Causes:

The non-communicable disease diabetes is caused because of the following:

There are three types of diabetes that individuals can get. 

• Type 1 diabetes is caused when an individual's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta present in the pancreas. This is caused by various factors, viruses that might trigger the disease or genetic and environmental factors.
• Reasons like obesity, being overweight, insulin resistance and genetic factors cause type 2 diabetes in individuals.
• Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes caused during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that women go through apart from lifestyle and genetic factors.
• Few other reasons that might cause diabetes include genetic mutations, hormonal diseases, usage of medicines or any damage caused to the pancreas or by removing it.

Symptoms:

The symptoms that an individual goes through in diabetes include:

• Having blurry vision
• Unexplainable weight loss
• Having more infections than usual
• Feeling tired easily
• Urge to urinate a lot, especially during night
• Being very thirsty and hungry
• Having numb or tingling hands and feet
• Having sores that heal slowly
• Having dry skin

Treatment:

Various types of diabetes include various types of treatment methods. However, the common treatment methods include: 

• Physical activity and having a healthy diet
• Use of insulin
• Medications like Metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Self-monitoring

Ways to Prevent:

To prevent diabetes, one needs to maintain the following-

• One should avoid and skip fad diets and decide on something healthier.
• One also needs to be physically active by doing some form of exercise.
• If one is obese or has extra weight, one should try losing it as soon as possible because extra weight triggers diabetes.
• One should eat healthier fats and try consuming more plant-based foods.

Alzheimer’s disease is a disease caused in one’s brain and it ends up destroying thinking skills, memory and other important mental functions.

Causes:

The exact reason why Alzheimer's disease is caused is not yet understood fully. However, at the initial stages, the brain proteins of an individual fail to perform normally, leading to a disruption in the work of brain cells and instead triggering multiple toxic events.

According to scientists, however, a combination of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors cause an effect on the brain for a long time leading to this disease.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are:

• Memory loss is one of the key symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Apart from that, they might even face difficulty in concentrating and thinking
• Repetition of questions and statements over and over
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Having trouble being part of conversations, expressing thoughts or choosing the correct words of action
• Misplacing possessions and placing them in illogical locations
• Forgetting conversations, events and appointments and being unable to remember them later
• Not being able to remember names of family members and daily objects

Treatment:

To prevent this non-communicable disease, health professionals use two ways.

• The usage of drugs in the form of medication is the first way to treat Alzheimer's. The two types of drugs used in this treatment are Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine (Namenda).
• The other treatment method is creating a supportive and safe environment for the individual having Alzheimer’s disease. Friends and family members of the patient should try to create an environment that is helpful for the individual.

Ways to Prevent:

These are the ways one can prevent Alzheimer's disease.

• One should stop smoking.
• Individuals should restrict themselves on alcohol consumption.
• One should eat a healthy diet which consists of fruits and green leafy vegetables everyday.
• Individuals should regularly exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.

Arthritis is a health condition which causes inflammation of one or more joints in one’s body. This,  in turn, causes pain and stiffness around the affected area.

Causes:

The main causes of arthritis include:

• Obesity
• Muscle weakness
• Autoimmune disorders
• Wear and tear of a joint from overuse
• Age factors
• Genetic factors

Symptoms:

The main symptoms of this disease are associated with an individual’s joints. The problems that an individual might face are:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Redness

Treatment:

The treatment procedure for arthritis is as follows:

• Arthritis is treated through the use of medicines like NSAIDs, steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and counterirritants.
• It is also treated with the use of surgical methods like joint repair, joint fusion and joint replacement.
• If the arthritis is in its initial stages, health professionals might also recommend weight loss and exercise, and even heat and cold methods to relieve arthritis pain.
• A few other alternatives like acupuncture, Glucosamine, fish oil, yoga and tai chi, chondroitin and massage are also good recommendations for treatment.

Ways to Prevent:

One can prevent arthritis by doing the following-

• Eating a healthy diet which should include fish.
• One should quit smoking.
• Individuals should also maintain a healthy weight because extra pressure on weight-bearing joints like knees and hips can worsen arthritis.
• One should regularly exercise and stretch his/her body as much as possible.
• Individuals should also control and maintain their blood sugar levels.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which affects cell activities in one’s brain and that causes seizures.

Causes:

Epilepsy is caused due to damage to the brain. In this disease, electrical signals in the brain become scrambled and sudden bursts of electrical activity take place, leading to seizures. Other reasons include:

• Brain stroke
• Brain infection
• Lack of oxygen during birth
• Severe head injury
• Brain tumour
• Alcohol misuse or drug abuse

Symptoms:

The symptoms of this disease include:

• Muscles becoming stiff
• Sudden collapsing
• Losing awareness and staring blankly into the space
• Uncontrollable shaking and jerking, which is known as a 'fit.'
• Strange sensations, unusual smells or tastes, tingling feeling in an individual’s arms or legs

Treatment:

Treatment methods include:

• Medicines known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
• A procedure that puts a small electrical device inside the epileptic person's body to help control seizures.
• A special diet is formulated, which often is a ketogenic diet that might help control seizures.
• Sometimes surgery is carried out to remove a small part of the brain of the epileptic person, which will reduce the seizures.

Ways to Prevent:

To avoid having epilepsy, one can do the following-

• One should prevent from getting any traumatic brain injuries by riding a bike/motorcycle safely or step correctly to avoid falling down.
• One should take preventive measures to lower chances of having heart diseases or strokes.
• Individuals must wash hands before eating and prepare food safely
• One should try to stay healthy during their pregnancy.
• Individuals must get their vaccines on time.

Muscle dystrophy is a health condition in which a group of genetic diseases cause loss of muscle muss and weakness in the muscles.

Causes:

Muscular dystrophy happens when the genes involved in making protein muscle fibers are defective.

Most muscular dystrophy is inherited, and each type is caused by a genetic mutation particular to that disease.

Symptoms:

The main symptom of this disease is gradually increasing muscle weakness, and most often, signs start showing up in the early stages.

However, few symptoms start showing up from an early stage. These include:

• Trouble running and jumping
• Delayed growth
• Difficulty in rising from a lying or sitting position
• Frequent falls
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Large calf muscles
• Waddling gait
• Learning disabilities

Treatment:

Treatment methods for this disease include:

• Respiratory therapy
• Speech therapy
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Drug therapy
• Surgery

Ways to Prevent:

The ways to prevent muscular dystrophy are-

• Eating a healthy diet to prevent malnutrition which might cause muscle dystrophy.
• One must exercise regularly to keep the muscles flexible, active and healthy.
• Individuals must avoid smoking to protect their heart and lungs.
• One should maintain a healthy weight and avoid being obese.
• One should hydrate oneself optimally to avoid dehydration and constipation.
• Individuals must get their pneumonia and flu vaccines. 

Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder which is related to one’s brain development and it impairs one’s ability to interact and communicate.

Causes:

Causes of autism include the following:

• Genetic mutations
• Metabolic imbalances
• Maternal history of viral infections
• Being born to older parents
• Fragile X syndrome, along with other genetic disorders
• Having a family member who is autistic
• Exposure to environmental toxins and heavy metals

Symptoms:

The symptoms of autism include:

• Facing challenges while socially communicating and interacting with others
• Repetitive and restricted behaviour and interests
• Delay in learning language, cognitive and movement skills
• More fear or lack of fear than what is expected
• Unusual mood swings
• Impulsive, hyperactive and inattentive behaviour
• Unusual eating and sleeping habits

Treatment:

The treatment method for autism spectrum disorder includes:

• Behavioural management therapy
• Speech-language therapy
• Early intervention
• The treatment of autism spectrum disorder includes
• Nutritional therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Joint attention therapy
• Social skills training
• Medication treatment
• Cognitive behaviour therapy
• Parent-mediated therapy
• Educational and school-based therapies
• Physical therapy

Ways to Prevent:

Since the most chances of developing this disorder occurs at the time of pregnancy, one needs to take special care during that time. A few ways to prevent it are-

• Living a healthy and maintained life during pregnancy. One should eat healthy meals, exercise if possible and have regular health-check-ups.
• One should avoid taking drugs during pregnancy. Before taking any medication, one should seek medical help.
• During pregnancy one should avoid any kind of alcohol and say no to smoking.
• One should also try to get the German measles vaccine before one gets pregnant to avoid rubella associated autism.

Tourette syndrome is a disorder that causes unwanted sounds and repetitive movements  which cannot be easily controlled.

Causes:

Although the exact cause of Tourette syndrome is unknown yet, according to scientists and health professionals, this complex disease is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Other than that, serotonin and dopamine, which transmit nerve impulses in the brain, might have a role to play as well.

Symptoms:

The main symptoms of this disease are tics. There are two types of tics. The symptoms of these two tics include:

Motor tics include movements like:

• Blinking
• Mouth twitching
• Shoulder shrugging
• Making a face
• Arm or head jerking

Vocal tics include the following symptoms:

• Coughing
• Shouting
• Sniffing
• Clearing throat
• Repeating what someone else does
• Grunting
• Barking or yelping

Treatment:

Treatment of this disease includes:

There is no particular treatment known for Tourette syndrome. However, to reduce the tics, medications and therapy is included.

• Medicines that can lessen and block dopamine
• ADHD medications
• Antidepressants
• Antiseizure medications
• Central adrenergic inhibitors
• Botulinium injections

Other than that, therapy like psychotherapy, deep brain stimulation, and behaviour therapy are included.

Ways to Prevent:

There are no ways which have shown to be effective in preventing tourette syndrome.

That is all individuals need to know about the list of non-communicable diseases. Readers can go through this list and understand the symptoms of each type, its treatment and its cause. Hopefully, it will help individuals help someone who is going through such symptoms.