Deadliest Diseases in India

Here is a detail about some of the most common deadliest diseases.

1. COVID-19- COVID-19, or the coronavirus, is considered one of the top 10 deadliest infectious diseases globally. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and affected many people, leading to increased cases of death in India in the past two years.

At Tata AIG, we provide a health insurance policy with COVID-19 cover. You can utilise the proceeds to pay for your medical and hospitalisation expenses as required. The waiting period to avail of the benefits is extremely less, being 30 days compared to 2 or 3 years in the case of other diseases.

The disease is spread by respiratory droplets from an infected person when they cough, sneeze or speak. People infected with this virus tend to have a mild respiratory illness, while it can be severe in people having cardiovascular issues, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

The symptoms are not common for every individual. Some people had no symptoms while being tested positive for COVID-19, while others had severe symptoms. However, the following symptoms were predominant in most incidences.

The symptoms of and preventive measures for COVID-19 are as follows:

Symptoms

• Severe cold
• Headache
• Fever
• Body Pain

Preventive Measures

• Vaccination
• Have a healthy diet
• Keep your surroundings hygienic
• Maintain social distancing
• Wear a mask while going outside
• Keep sanitising your hands often when you are outside

As the level of infection of coronavirus is not predictable, you must stay financially prepared to face a medical emergency.

2. Cardiovascular diseases- Cardiovascular diseases are increasingly prevalent and are one of the most dangerous diseases that cause death in many older adults. These occur predominantly due to an unhealthy lifestyle.

If you are obese, physically inactive, addicted to tobacco or alcohol consumption, have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, then you are susceptible to getting affected due to cardiovascular diseases. It can also be due to hereditary reasons. Therefore, based on your family history, you must take regular check-ups.

The symptoms of and preventive measures for cardiovascular diseases are as follows:

Symptoms

• Face difficulty while breathing
• Chest pain
• Discomfort in shoulder, neck and jaw
• Sweating
• Tiredness

Preventive Measures

• Engage in regular physical activity
• Avoid junk food
• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption
• Keep monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure levels
• Have healthy food and keep monitoring your weight

If your family has a medical history of getting affected due to a critical illness such as a heart attack, you can purchase the critical illness insurance to pay for your medical expenses when diagnosed with it at a later stage in your life during the policy duration.

3. Diabetes- Diabetes is a secret killer disease. It might not show a symptom when you are affected due to any other disease. There are two different types of diabetes. Type 1 is a health condition wherein your pancreas does not produce enough insulin. And Type 2 diabetes is a health condition wherein the insulin produced in your body is not effectively utilised.

The symptoms of and preventive measures for diabetes are as follows:

Symptoms

• Frequent urge to urination
• Increased hunger and thirst
• Weight loss
• Tiredness

Preventive Measures

• Regular physical exercise
• Having a healthy diet with reduced intake of carbohydrates
• Monitoring your blood glucose levels at frequent intervals
• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption

Consult a dietitian in case of a consistent increase in blood glucose levels to decide on a well-balanced diet.

4.Respiratory Diseases- Respiratory diseases are an increasing concern that can lead to death, even in children. Asthma, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., are some of the most common respiratory diseases. It can be caused due to excessive exposure to toxic substances, dust, air pollution, smoking, lower immunity levels, etc.

The symptoms of and preventive measures for respiratory diseases are as follows:

Symptoms

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

Preventive Measures

• Cover yourself while travelling to polluted areas
• Quit smoking
• Increase intake of vitamins and minerals that enhance immunity levels, such as Spinach, Eggs, Citrus fruits, etc.
• Practice deep breathing exercises
• You can utilise the benefits of health insurance plans and take the necessary medical tests periodically based on any symptoms to be aware of your health conditions that might lead to respiratory diseases later in your life.

5.Malignant and other tumours - Tumours are also common and cause death in people regularly exposed to toxic chemicals and ionising radiation and one of the deadliest diseases in history. It can also be due to pathogens and genetics.

Tumours tend to show symptoms later in their development. It usually starts with showing a painless lump. Consult your doctor immediately when you experience the symptoms for effective medication.
The symptoms of and preventive measures for malignant and other tumours are as follows:

Symptoms

• Painless lump
• Preventive Measures
• Maintain a healthy weight and life standards
• Get regular immunisation
• Stay physically active
• Quit smoking

Cancer is the deadliest disease in India that can need a large sum of money to diagnose and get cured. However, if you have a health insurance policy with adequate cover, you can reduce the financial burden to a considerable extent in such scenarios.

6. Diarrheal diseases - Diarrheal disease is a health condition wherein you pass loose stools more than three to four times a day. It can be caused due to a lack of clean water and other sanitation facilities. Diarrhoea can reduce the water and salt levels leaving you extremely dehydrated leading to fatigue.

The symptoms of and preventive measures for diarrheal diseases are as follows:

Symptoms

• Frequent loose stools
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Mucus or blood in the stool
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath

Preventive Measures

• Maintain good hygiene and wash hands regularly
• Quit alcohol
• Drink lots of water
• Include a healthy and balanced diet plan

Diarrheal diseases are considered one of the top deadliest diseases because it is prevalent even in infants and extremely stressful.

The deadliest infectious diseases and other common illnesses in India have taken a toll on many people's lives for ages. Lack of awareness and unhygienic living standards are the major causes of such diseases. Therefore, you must educate yourself and take the necessary preventive measures to keep your family against such diseases.

Some of the common deadliest diseases in India are the COVID-19, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, diarrheal diseases, malignant and other tumours. While you take the necessary preventive measures, getting affected due to such diseases become unavoidable in some cases.

In such scenarios, only a health insurance policy can serve as extended financial support to get cured and stay financially protected! So, without any further delay, research and make smart decisions in your life.