Table of Contents
- Top 5 killer diseases in Kenya.
- 1. Heart attack
- 2. Chest infections
- 3. Diabetes
- 4. Tuberculosis
- 5. Smoking
Top 5 killer diseases in Kenya.
For this article, I am going to list the top five killer diseases in Kenya that you should watch out for. I am also going to discuss how you can recognize, manage and treat.
In recent times we have all become careful and taken an active role in protecting our health. This can be noticed by the significant shift in lifestyle and behavior changes towards more healthy lifestyle choices.
According to a report by the World Health Organization. Diseases such as poorly managed diabetes, breast and lung cancer as well as lung infections such as pneumonia are the leading killer diseases in Kenya and the world.
1. Heart attack
Heart attack is one of the feared killer diseases in Kenya and takes the front line in this list. A heart attack happens when there is an obstruction of blood supply to the heart muscle. Heart attack can be associated with obesity, high levels of cholesterol in the blood as well as poorly controlled high blood pressure.
Signs and symptoms that someone is having a heart attack
Persistent Crushing chest pain that spreads up the jaw and down to one arm or both. The pain does not ease when the patient rests.
- The patient experiences breathlessness
- Collapses suddenly without any warning
- Faintness and dizziness
- cyanosis
- Rapid and irregular pulse
- Extreme gasping of air.
How to manage a heart attack victim
First, you need to make the casualty as comfortable as possible. If the casualty has any heart attack prescribed medication such as tablets or pumps action, help them administer it. It is important to monitor important signs such as pulse rate and breathing as you wait for help to come.
How to avoid a heart attack.
- Exercise regularly and eat foods that have a low level of cholesterol
- Change your lifestyle.
- If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, keep them under control.
2. Chest infections
Chest infections such as pneumonia is one of the other killer diseases in Kenya that we should watch out. Pneumonia is a lung infection whereby the alveoli fill up with fluids making it difficult for oxygen to reach the blood. It is one of the leading killers mostly in children and the elderly.
However, this does not mean that the youth are not exposed to it. It is important to note that most chest infections are caused by either virus or bacteria and if identified and treated early many lives can be saved. Unfortunately, many Kenyans ignore these signs and report to the hospital when it is too late.
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Signs and symptoms of pneumonia.
Different pneumonia patients show different signs and symptoms depending on the cause and the age of the patient. Here are some of the common signs and symptoms.
- Fever and cough
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Grey or a bluish color in fingertips and lips this happens mostly in the extreme cases.
3. Diabetes
It is a long-term medical condition that has cost the lives of many Kenyans. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 which is insulin depended and type 2 which is non-insulin dependent.
People can develop diabetic conditions at any age from infancy to the elderly. If not well managed, diabetes can cause destruction to digestive functions, kidneys, and visual organs. It also increases the risk of getting a heart attack and stroke.
Type 1 diabetes mostly develops in childhood or during teenage hood and hence the patient needs regular insulin injections to boost insulin levels in the body.
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is where the body does not make enough insulin. It develops during maturity. The risk of developing type two diabetes is increased if it runs in the family. You can learn about first treatment for diabetes here.
4. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is another aggressive killer infection that is associated with stigma. In the quest to create awareness and reduce the stigma associated with tuberculosis, World Health Organisation (WHO) created a worlds tuberculosis day which was set to be on 24th March.
It is important to note that anyone can be exposed to the risk of contracting tuberculosis and it can affect different organs such as the brain, lungs, intestines as well as backbone among others.
How to prevent tuberculosis
The best prevention from contracting tuberculosis is by getting a TB vaccination.
5. Smoking
As much as smoking is in the list of top killer diseases in Kenya, it is a lifestyle habit that is associated with may fatal infections.
Smoking is associated with different types of cancer. It is also associated with lung damage, pregnancy complications, heart attack as well as stroke.
That concludes our list on the top 5 killer diseases in Kenya.
