5 top diseases killing Ghanaians today

Reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) show that aside vehicular accidents, specific diseases, and other health complications are causing the death of millions of Ghanaians every year.

Interestingly enough, YEN.comgh has gathered that the deadly Ebola outbreak which ravaged several countries in Africa never made it to the list.

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Here is the list of fatal diseases

1. Lower Respiratory Infections (LRIs)

Lower respiratory infections are infections that often affect the lower tract of the lungs. Popularly known as Pneumonia, this infection, according to the CDC, amounts to 11 percent of all deaths in the country.

Signs of this infection are shortness of breath, weakness, fever, coughing and fatigue. Antibiotics are the first line treatment for pneumonia; however, they are not effective or indicated for parasitic or viral infections. Acute bronchitis typically resolves on its own with time.

2. Stroke

There is no doubt that the killer disease of stroke remains at number 2 on the list by the CDC. Stroke happens when the ease of blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked by a clog in the vein or arteries. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die.

When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. According to the CDC, 9 percent of all death cases in Ghana are mainly caused through the complications of stroke.

3. Malaria

Ghana has made great strides in combating the menace of malaria which continues to kill a child under 3 years but this disease continues to wreck families considering the issues of wrong dosages or even over dosage of such anti-malarial prescriptions.

The CDC reveals that Malaria amounts to 8 percent of all premature deaths in the country. Common symptoms of malaria include: shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe, high fever, profuse sweating., headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It is mainly cured through the dispensing of anti-malarial drugs.

4. Ischemic Heart Disease

Also known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), this remains one of the major diseases killing both young and old in Ghana. It all happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is decreased mainly due to narrowed heart arteries. Ischemia often causes chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris.

According to the CDC, 6 percent of all death cases in Ghana are caused by heart-related diseases. So far, all heart-related issues are maintained through proper dieting or at worst surgeries.

5. HIV/AIDS

We cannot end this discussion without including the issue of HIV/AIDS. According to the Ghana AIDS Commission, over 500,000 of Ghanaians are infected with HIV with a quarter of them currently under anti-retroviral therapy. HIV has no cure for symptoms being the expansion of the lymph nodes, flu, and fever, candidiasis among many others.

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Source: YEN.com.gh