The Latest Medical Technology News For Stroke Prevention - Diet Sodas Can Increase Stroke Risk

For this latest medical technology news, let us take a look at the connection between diet sodas and stroke. Then, explore the many stroke prevention options available. 

Diet sodas are said to be a healthier alternative to those sugary beverages. However, this low-calorie drink can put you at greater risk of stroke or heart attack.  

In a study of health data involving more than 82,000 women in a long-term study of women’s health, 5.1% stated that they downed diet beverages a day. But researchers found that this group had a higher likelihood of developing coronary heart disease that might lead to stroke. 

Furthermore, 23% of women drinking more than two artificially sweetened drinks would have a higher risk of strokes. They are also likely to suffer from heart disease. These women are also likely to die from any cause. 

Several previous studies also showed a link between diet sodas or beverages and dementia, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and obesity. They can lead to heart disease. 

This latest research is a confirmatory study that shows a direct link between vascular risks and sweetened beverages that are artificially flavored. The researchers could not provide causation though. However, it requires careful attention. 

Now, many researchers are asking what is the content of these drinks that make them harmful. Is it about the sweeteners? Are they causing harm to our metabolism and gut health? These questions remain unanswered. 

However, we do know that they can cause obesity. 

In past studies, researchers focused on cardiovascular disease. However, this recent study dealt with the most common type of stroke. The more interesting thing about it is that the researchers looked at the people who are more vulnerable. 

The researchers also analyzed the data of women without a history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, the data showed that the risks are higher for women who were obese or African-American. 

Higher Risk Among Postmenopausal Women 

Postmenopausal women are at high risk because of the absence of natural hormones that provide protection against heart disease and stroke. 

Health experts point out the possible danger of artificially sweetened drinks for weight loss. Some critics said that low to no-calorie sweeteners are considered safe. 

They said that there is substantial evidence showing that these sweeteners could aid people in reducing sugar consumption. 

It leads to one question — what is the alternative to diet sodas or beverages? 

There are plenty of them. I have listed them below. However, your best option is still water. 

1.Fresh Lemonade

It is a classic beverage. It is a common pick-me-up beverage. Having a fresh lemonade in the morning or after working out can hydrate your body. 

You can add agave nectar to give it a sweet taste. However, lemonades alone have a citrusy flavor that does not require additional sweetness.

2. Kombucha

It is in the recent health trends in 2019. And it has shown no signs of fizzling out. However, it has a poignant flavor that not everyone would like. 

Typically, it has no sugar. Rather, it has probiotics that can promote gut health. 

You can find it in grocery stores and health shops. Or you can make it yourself. 

3. Sparkling Water 

You can add cranberry juice and drink it at lunchtime. It is a low-calorie alternative to diet soda. 

4. Maple Water 

It is not sugary and not processed. It is taken from the maple tree sap containing 98% water. It has no additives and preservatives. But it does contain little sugar.

Last year, the American Heart Association issued a statement that low-calorie and artificially sweetened beverages could help promote weight loss. But only in adults and not in children. 

However, those low-calorie sweetened drinks could be useful in allowing people to transition from drinking sugary beverages to just water. 

Because there is solid science behind the connection between consumption of these beverages and adverse health results, it is only prudent to limit your intake. 

Scientists are still discovering various connections. However, it is ideal for us to just consume water and other non-calorie beverages. Many individuals now are drinking bottled water. In fact, it surpassed the number of drinkers of carbonated soft drinks. 

What Are The Ways To Prevent A Stroke? 

There are various things you can do to prevent a stroke. 

Lower Or Regulate Blood Pressure 

If you are hypertensive, your stroke risk is doubled or quadrupled. It is one of the biggest contributors to stroke risk. Hence, it is vital that you monitor your blood pressure regularly. 

If you need medical intervention, you can take blood pressures. However, make sure to consult your physician about it. 

Lose Weight 

Obesity raises your chances of a stroke. However, before you start to lose weight and achieve better health and wellness, make sure to ask your doctor. In that way, he can give proper weight loss strategy ideal for your situation. 

To start losing weight though, you have to consume less than 1,500 calories per day. But the number of daily calories will depend on your activity level. Then, make sure to boost your physical activities. 

Try tennis and golfing. 

Be Active 

In any medical technology news you read, health experts will always recommend increasing your level of exercise. 

By exercising more, it promotes weight loss while it lowers blood pressure. Aim to exercise at least five days a week. 

There are several videos you can watch to help you boost your exercise level. This is one of the videos that I watch every morning. 

In the morning, you can go for a walk around your neighborhood. While performing any exercise, you must aim to achieve a level that it becomes difficult to breathe but you can still talk.

You must also opt to take the stairs rather than an elevator. 

Avoid Drinking Alcoholic Beverages

Having one drink a day may slightly reduce your stroke risk. However, if you cannot control your drinking habit, make sure to avoid it completely. 

Treat You Atrial Fibrillation 

It is a form of irregular heartbeat. It causes clot formation in the heart. The clot can go to the brain, thereby, increasing your chances of a stroke. 

This irregular heartbeat is said to increase your risk of stroke five times. Thus, you must take it seriously. 

Final Thoughts 

In this recent medical technology news, you should consider avoiding sugary beverages, whether they are diet sodas or canned fruit juices. 

Instead of consuming them, opt for water and other healthy, low-calorie, non-sugary beverages, like the ones listed above.

Suffering Back Pain? New Implants offer hope to Eradicate Back Pain

Back pain isn’t for sissies and low back pain is the most common reason people visit their doctor. Back and neck pain can come about because of intervertebral discs separating the vertebrae of the spine.

For sufferers of back pain, there is now new hope that may eradicate back pain once and for all, by using implants made of the patient’s own cells. This according to new research, says Medical News Today.

Intervertebral discs which are healthy play an important role such as keeping the vertebral column stable. They also act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae in the spinal column. They do this by keeping the vertebrae separated when there is an impact from any kind of activity. Now, because of research, there is hope for relieving pain with a personalized tissue implant from the patient’s own cells.

Transplants are an awesome medical advancement, but despite being such an amazing advancement, rejection of the tissue from the body’s immune response remains a major issue. But now, with new technology, there is the reality of creating fully personalized tissue implants making use of the patient’s own cells.

With new technology, researchers can actually engineer any tissue type. It is mind-boggling to know that after transplantation, diseased or injured organs such as the spinal cord can be regenerated.

If discs wear out, pain can be experienced in the person’s neck or back. Discs are made of 2 parts – the annulus fibrosis and the nucleus pulposis, but when these soft, gelatinous cushions wear down, degenerated discs can’t act as a shock absorber any more. Discs can degenerate anywhere along the 26 vertebrae of the spine, but it’s more frequent in the lumbar- and cervical region.

Apart from pain, other complications such as osteoarthritis, bone spurs, and herniation of disc can occur. As the discs wear away, the space between the vertebrae narrows, putting the joints under greater stress and further degeneration.

Up until fairly recently, treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration would be either replacing the damaged discs with artificial ones or surgery - spinal fusion surgery. Unfortunately, not being able to restore full function of the replaced intervertebral discs is one drawback with these treatments.

Now, in Philadelphia, a multidisciplinary research team is planning to bring about a solution to this issue by developing bioengineered intervertebral discs which have been made from the patient’s own stem cells. These stem cells have the potential to become specialized cells and have become the focus of much research.

Bioengineered spinal discs can be implanted to provide long-term function. The cells of patients with neck and back pain will be used to build a new spinal disc to replace a deteriorated one.

The multidisciplinary team is from the Perelman School of Medicine-, Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Veterinary Medicine. They believe that this solution can help the millions of people suffering from neck and back pain.

In their most recent efforts, the research team has implanted bioengineered spinal discs into goat spines. They then studied them for up to 20 weeks. Preliminary results in goats have been so good as to spur the University of Pennsylvania researchers on. They have been working toward this goal for about 15 years, with goats being chosen because their cervical spine discs are much the same size as human discs.

Discs Became Part of your own Tissue

The development of a tissue-engineered replacement disc is a huge step towards having it integrated with the surrounding native tissue. The team’s hope and goal is to replace the disc in a way that the patient regains full range of motion. The team is thrilled and excited that they have come so far that instead of using animals, they are now able to use human-sized implants.

Tissue engineering offers great hope for patients with degenerative disc disease, combining the patients’ own stem cells so as to create a composite structure which is implanted into the spine, acting as a replacement disc.

World-renowned and legendary golfer, Jack Nicklaus would have suffered from a lifetime of back pain were it not for his stem cell surgery. The 78-year-old touts an experimental stem cell surgery that he says has been most effective.

The research team at Pennsylvania believes that they have every reason to be optimistic that implants made of your own cells' could end back pain. The team can actually engineer any tissue type, and regenerate any organ which won’t be rejected by the body.

In the Meantime

Current trials with the implants are being conducted on animals with great success. The next step is to conduct more extensive trials on goats before hopefully taking it to the clinical trial stages.

In the meantime, Mayo Clinic offers the following tips for preventing and tackling back pain:

-Quit smoking
-Adopt  low-impact aerobic exercises

-Build up your muscles in the abdominal and back areas

-Maintain a healthy weight

-Choose a chair that’s good for back pain, such as a high contoured back and lumbar support.

Taking a proactive approach to back pain is still the best approach, according to doctors.

A Woman Developed A Fatal Infection With Vibrio Bacteria After She Ate Raw Oysters

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-dies-after-contracting-flesh-eating-bacteria-from-oysters/

According to a news report, a woman from Texas died after eating raw oysters. A report stated that she developed an infection with flesh-eating bacteria. 

CBS News reported that the woman’s name was Jeanette LeBlanc. She went out with her friends and family to the coast of Louisiana to go crabbing. During her trip, she and her friends ate two dozens of raw of oysters. But after eating them, Jeanette experienced difficulty breathing. She also developed a rash on her legs. The rash looked like she had an allergic reaction. 

Her condition worsened prompting her to see doctors. Her doctors found that she developed a flesh-eating bacterial infection known as Vibrio.  

What are Vibrio bacteria? 

They live in coastal waters. These bacteria thrive in warm water. That’s why they’re abundant from May to October. 

You can easily develop Vibrio infection by merely eating uncooked or undercooked shellfish, including oysters. And if you have open wounds on your skin and it’s exposed to infected salt water, then you’ll develop this infection as well. 

Each year, these bacteria cause around 80,000 illnesses and result in 100 deaths in the US alone. The majority of individuals would experience diarrhea and vomiting when they contract Vibrio from eating raw oysters. If the infection is mild, they can recover in a few days. 

But some patients could develop a severe infection, resulting in bloodstream infection. One in every four people who developed a severe disease dies from it. 

Unfortunately, Jeanette was exposed not just to raw oysters but also to brackish water. However, the report didn’t state whether or not it was the fresh oyster or brackish water that caused her infection. 

For 21 days, she battled the infection. Then again, she wasn’t able to recover and died on October 15, 2017. 

Because of that, her partner and friends want to raise awareness about this type of infection. If only Jeanette knew the risk was high, she would not opt to eat raw oysters or expose herself to brackish water.

Cinnamaldehyde From Cinnamon Can Fight Obesity As Study Finds

Ah, the smell of cinnamon on your coffee! This spice is commonly associated with sweet desserts. It is good for your health. And you will love it even more. In a study from the University of Michigan, researchers found that the cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon could attack fat cells, thereby, effective in fighting obesity. 

What is cinnamaldehyde? 

It is an essential oil in cinnamon. The study showed that the oil could boost metabolic health by stimulating fat cells to burn energy, which is a process known as thermogenesis. 

The good thing is that cinnamon has been around for thousands of years and some of us use it every day. Thus, if it could protect us against obesity, then it would be easier for us to adhere to a diet that involves cinnamon. 

By the way, it’s the cinnamaldehyde that gives cinnamon the flavor that we genuinely love. 

The study 

The research developed cinnamaldehyde in mice, and it found that the oil did protect the mice against obesity. 

Another study was conducted to test its effect on humans. Using the fat cells from volunteers, researchers treated the adipocytes with cinnamaldehyde.

The results were promising. The researchers found “an increased expression” of enzymes that could boost metabolism. Not only that, but they also increase the proteins that could help in thermogenesis. 

The study concluded that cinnamaldehyde could be beneficial in fighting obesity by activating thermogenesis. However, researchers would not endorse this spice as a form of weight loss treatment unless a further study is conducted. 

More studies are needed to find out its real benefits and the side effects. 

Ways to enjoy cinnamon 

Now that studies have backed the use of cinnamon in fighting against obesity, here are some ways to enjoy cinnamon every day. 

Add it to lemon and honey water

You may already be practicing drinking lemon and honey water in the morning. Now, you can add another ingredient to it to boost your morning beverage. 

Sprinkle it on your coffee

Instead of adding sugar to your black coffee, try adding a dash of cinnamon to sweeten this beverage without worrying about your calories. It doesn’t just boost the flavor, but it also helps speed up your metabolism. 

Now, if you’re not fond of drinking coffee, but you love eating oats or cereals, then opt to sprinkle cinnamon onto this morning meal. 

Drink cinnamon water

You can make cinnamon water by boiling cinnamon sticks. Drink it hot or cold. Make sure to drink it 30 minutes before or after meals and not during meals. It’s especially true if you are suffering from GERD. 

Mix it to your protein shakes

A protein shake is already useful in helping you lose weight. And if you add cinnamon powder to this healthy drink, then you’re giving your body an excellent drink for shedding some pounds. 

Or you can add cinnamon to your cooking. Don’t just add it to a recipe that calls for this spice but you can also opt to add it to recipes that won’t call for it. You can sprinkle it into rice dishes or roasted veggies. 

TLDR

Cinnamaldehyde is the essential oil extracted from cinnamon. It showed to be effective in fighting obesity. But researchers don’t recommend it as part of a weight loss method, just yet. More studies are needed to know its benefits and side effects.

Creator Of Alkaline Diet Faces Jail Time

Source: http://escondidograpevine.com/2017/01/20/ph-miracle-dr-robert-young-strikes-again/

The alkaline diet is a popular program sworn by a lot of your favorite celebrities, such as Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson. But the creator of this diet, Robert Young, Ph.D., is in the news again and it’s not in a right way. 

Last week, BBC reported that the creator is arrested for practicing medicine without a license and is now facing jail time. He is also charged with deception by treating terminally ill cancer patients with baking soda infusions, rather than the use of traditional medical treatments. 

In 2010, he co-wrote the book “The pH Miracle.” The book theorized that diseases are caused by too much acid in the blood. This theory inspired a lot of alkaline diets and cleanses. Most of them recommend eating foods that can metabolize alkaline compounds in the body to balance pH level. 

In addition to Kate Hudson and Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham is also a fan of this diet. In fact, she tweeted a photo of an alkaline diet cookbook in 2013. As a result, the interests in this style of eating increased. Gwyneth Paltrow and Kelly Ripa also voiced their support for this type of diet. You could also find a bottled alkaline water promoted by Miranda Kerr, a supermodel. Despite unproven health claims, it has become a popular drink. 

Last year, however, the creator was convicted of practicing medicine without a license. It’s a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to three years and eight months. He also faced several other charges, like defrauding his patients out of money. 

The prosecutors said that he led his patients to believe that he could cure them using expensive baking-soda treatments to flush those extra acids out of the body. Young told his terminally ill cancer patients at his California ranch. He would be re-tried for other charges. 

Over the years, Young practiced as a doctor and a naturopath. Unfortunately, his doctorate in nutrition came from a now-defunct correspondence school. He also does not have a medical degree. 

Furthermore, BBC reported that one of his patients paid him more than $77,000 in 2012 to try to save her life through his treatments. However, after she spent three months at Young’s ranch, she died. 

Young did not feel guilty of his actions; he told the reporters. He said that his alkaline diet program had cured thousands to millions of people. 

Unfortunately, there’s little to no evidence that can support his alkaline diet and his cancer treatments. Although some foods have a variety of pH levels, eating alkaline foods are not shown to offer positive effects on the body chemistry. 

According to a gastroenterologist, our body is an incredible machine that can keep the pH levels where they should be. Thus, there’s no food or drinks that can change that. 

But the foods recommended in the alkaline diet are healthy, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Those acidic foods are less right for you. These include meat, caffeine and anything that has been processed. 

In practice, the alkaline diet may have health benefits. So, instead of buying products that claim to alkalinize your body, focus on that food that offers health benefits.

HIV Cure - British Man May Be the First Patient Cured of the Disease

There’s no cure for HIV. But after the Sunday Times reported that a British man was cured of HIV using a therapy discovered by a team of scientists from the UK, an HIV treatment could just be around the corner. 

The British man is a 44-year-old person who’s part of the 50 individuals who participated in the trial treatment. The treatment is designed to target the disease even in its dormant stage. 

Presently, the HIV is undetectable in the patient’s blood. Scientists said that if it remains that way, he’ll be the first person to be cured. This case is one of the first attempts at finding a cure for this disease. Although it’s still early to say that it’s indeed an HIV cure, the progress is considered as remarkable. 

The HIV cure trial is being undertaken by scientists from several universities, such as Oxford, Imperial College Lond, King’s College London, Cambridge, and University College London. 

Why is it unfathomable to find the cure for this disease? 

One of the reasons HIV is complicated to treat is that it targets the patient’s immune system. It joins with the DNA of T-cells. As a result, the cells will ignore the disease. They also become viral factories that reproduce the virus. 

Current treatments are being used. They’re known as the anti-retroviral therapies. They target the process of the virus replicating. Unfortunately, they can’t spot infected T-cells that are still in the dormant stage. 

The latest treatment, however, works in two phases. The first step involves a vaccine that assists the body in recognizing those infected T-cells. From there, it can start clearing them out. Then, a new drug called Vorinostat is introduced. It activates the dormant T-cells. In that way, they’ll be seen by the immune system. 

In the UK, there are over 100,000 patients with this condition. But 17 percent of them don’t know that they have this condition. Worldwide, there are 37 million people infected with it. 

It’d be great if HIV cure would be discovered. The British man said that his blood test was taken two weeks ago and the virus couldn't be found. For him, it’s a massive achievement if it’s indeed a cure. 

This therapy aimed to clear the system of all HIV viruses. As mentioned earlier, the treatment includes even those dormant ones. Scientists working on this cure said that the treatment worked in the laboratory and they’re positive that it’ll work in humans. However, they admitted that this discovery is still a long way from the actual HIV cure. 

The medical tests will still continue for the next five years. At the moment, the scientists don’t recommend patients with HIV to cease from taking ART (anti-retroviral therapies). 

There’s only one person who has ever been cured of the disease. This patient received a stem cell transplant in 2008 from a patient who’s naturally immune to HIV. 

Currently, a drug that can cure HIV isn't available yet. With the results of this study, it looks promising because it doesn't just suppress the virus, but it also eradicates it. 

Top 10 Deadliest Diseases

Our human history is stained with the blood of the people who were killed in the war. However, the human diseases are the world’s biggest killers because they don’t discriminate race. In this post, let’s find out the top 10 deadliest diseases in the world. 

1. Ebola 

http://www.naturalnews.com/gallery/640/Ebola/Ebola-Virus-Word-Shapes.jpg

It’s a rare but deadly disease. An Ebola virus causes Ebola. It can infect humans and primates. The first case was discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, the disease spread sporadically in Africa. 

The natural reservoir host of the virus is still unknown, but researchers believe that it’s animal-borne, and the most likely reservoir are the bats. 

It requires direct contact with blood and body fluids, objects, and infected primates to get the virus. The outbreak in 2014 was considered to be the largest and most complex since the discovery of the disease in 1976. 

The said outbreak was so bad that all flights to those affected countries had been restricted. Health experts used experimental vaccines before they’ve tried on humans. Because of how it infects people, it strikes fear in people worldwide. 

The infection starts as an ordinary infection with common symptoms, such as sore throats, fever, and headaches. If it’s left untreated, it targets the person’s immune system causing blood vessels to explode. It’ll then result in internal and external bleeding. 

But Ebola isn't the only deadly disease in the world. 

2. The Black Death 

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/033/cache/plague-painting_3338_600x450.jpg

The plague began in 1347 when 12 of the trading ships returned from a journey to the Black Sea. It ravaged communities in Europe and changed their economy. Then, it spread to the north and east and affected Scandinavia and Russia. 

It spread from animals to humans through fleas from dying rats. When it infects human, the bacteria suppresses vital organs of the patient. 

Contrary to what others believed, the Black Death wasn’t a disease of poverty. Many wealthy individuals across Europe lost more than half of their members. Some of them became extinct. 

The symptoms included swellings in the groin, neck, and armpits. It also caused dark patches. Patients also experienced coughing of blood. 

Medieval people didn't understand the disease. For them, it came from God. As a result, they responded it with prayers and processions. Modern antibiotics could have combatted the plague. However, there were threats from mutating diseases and becoming immune to the effects of antibiotics. 

When the disease subsided in the 1350s, it already killed 60 percent of the European population. Per year, it still affects up to 2,000 people. Most of the cases are in sub-Saharan Africa. 

3. Smallpox 

http://carrington.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/small-pox-770x392.png

Although smallpox has already been eradicated worldwide because of a global immunization campaign, this disease was once a deadly disease that affected the human population for thousands of years. 

For research purposes, samples of the virus are kept. But it has led to concerns that this disease could be used as a biological warfare agent. 

Even if the illness has been eradicated, there’s still no cure for it. There’s a vaccine that can prevent it. However, the risks of the side effects are too high to give it as a routine vaccination for people who are at low risk of exposure to the virus. 

After you’ve infected, the symptoms will only appear within 12 to 14 days. During the incubation period, you’ll look healthy. But you can’t infect others yet. After that period, however, you’ll develop symptoms, like fever, headache, severe back pain, fatigue, and vomiting. 

A few days later, you’ll develop red spot appearing on your face, forearms and your trunk. This infection is caused by the variola virus, which can be transmitted from person to person or via contaminated items. 

4. HIV/AIDS 

http://www.avert.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_scale_style_780/public/field/image/howyougetHIV.png?itok=p2Ir99kn

The HIV/AIDS epidemic appeared out of thin air. It was first reported in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report said that five young healthy gay men from LA were suffering from a lung infection. 

But, within a few days, doctors from New York, San Francisco and other parts of the US called the CDC to report about similar cases. By the end of 1981, the CDC reported 270 cases of gay men with severe immune deficiency. Out of 270 cases, 121 of them died. 

At that time, scientists weren't sure what infecting these healthy gay men. So, gays were discriminated against. Every day, more cases were reported. It was in 1982 that the CDC first used the word AIDS. 

In the next few years, HIV/AIDS organizations were growing to find the mode of transmission and know more about how to fight it. Since then, scientists discovered that the disease was transmitted through bodily fluids. 

There’s still no cure yet for HIV/AIDS. However, some drugs can help in managing the disease. There are 75 million people with HIV worldwide. And 36 million of them died. In 2012 alone, 1.6 million people died of this disease. 

Before, this disease was considered a death sentence. But it’s no longer the case today because there are medicines that allow patients to live normal, healthy lives. 

5. Yellow Fever 

http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2015September/yellow-fever-650-x-350_093015022058.jpg

It’s an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. Mosquitoes transmit yellow fever. The yellow in the name represents jaundice affecting some patients. The symptoms will include fever, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. When a patient is infected with the virus, you’ll develop severe symptoms. Half of those patients died within 7 to 10 days. 

This disease isn't common in the US, but it’s endemic in Africa, Central, and South America. In 2006, the Yellow Fever Initiative was launched. Since then, there’s significant progress in fighting against the disease in West Africa. More than 105 million people in this area were vaccinated. During 2015, there were no reports of outbreaks of yellow fever. 

A vaccine can prevent yellow fever. The good thing is that it’s safe and affordable. A single dose of vaccine can offer long-term protection against the disease. That said, a booster isn't needed. 

Furthermore, survival rates can be increased through a proper supportive treatment in hospitals. Currently, there’s no anti-drug for this disease. 

6. Tuberculosis 

http://lagosmums.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tuberculosis.jpg

It’s an infectious disease that affects the lungs. In 2012, the CDC reported that 1.3 million died from this disease. And 8.6 million are falling ill. 

The causative agent of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s spread through the air when an infected person coughs, spits, laughs and talks. 

Even though it’s contagious, you can’t easily catch the bacteria. Patients with this condition who received appropriate treatment for two weeks are no longer considered as contagious. 

What’s more terrifying is that some strains of the bacterium have become resistant to drugs. 

7. Cholera 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Adult_cholera_patient.jpg

It’s another deadly infectious disease that causes patients to experience severe watery diarrhea. If it’s left untreated, it can lead to dehydration and death. The primary cause of this disease is eating food or drinking water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. 

This disease was once prevalent in the US in the 1800s. It was before modern sewage treatment systems eradicated the spread of contaminated water. Because of the current treatment system, only 10 cases of this disease are reported in the US each year. And half of those cases are obtained abroad. 

8. Malaria https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Symptoms_of_Malaria.png

It was first identified in 1880. At that time, scientists considered this disease as a result of a parasitic infection. Malaria was taken from an Italian word malaria, which means bad air. This disease is transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are mostly active at dusk and dawn. 

In 2013, an estimated 198 millions cases of this disease were reported, and 584,000 of them are dead. This disease occurs mostly in subtropical and poor areas of the world, like the Philippines. Although malaria has been eliminated from the US in the 1950s, the mosquitoes that carry it remain. That is, it can still be a risk of reintroduction. 

9. Spanish Flu  

https://www.eyeonspain.com/userfiles/image/mac75/Spanish-Flu-notice.jpeg

The Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 to 1919 was the deadliest in modern history. It infected 500 million people in the world. During the pandemic, there were 675,000 Americans who died. It was first observed in Europe, the US and some countries in Asia before it spread around the world. 

Most of the flu victims were young, healthy adults. At that time, effective drugs and vaccines were nowhere to be found. 

It was only in 1919 that the pandemic came to an end. 

10. Meningitis 

http://image.slidesharecdn.com/meningitisppt-140419230911-phpapp02/95/meningitis-ppt-16-638.jpg?cb=1397949002

It’s a rare infection affecting the delicate membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. For bacterial meningitis, this disease can be deadly. It’s also contagious. Viral meningitis, on the other, is less severe. Most patients can easily recover without specific therapy. Fungal meningitis is also rare, and it only affects patients with weakened immune systems. 

Meningitis is caused by bacteria, virus or fungi. Among the three types of meningitis, the most serious is bacterial meningitis that requires immediate medical attention. It’s also the type that’s deadly. A patient can die within hours. If not, he’ll suffer from permanent damage to the brain.