The Most Common Ailments in the Modern World and How to Treat Them

As much as modernization has brought plenty of positive things into our lives, it has come with its fair share of negatives as well.

You may or may not be aware, but the health sector is among the most affected aspects of life. Dwelling more on the negative part, a lot of health issues and challenges of today are linked to the lifestyle choices we make. The good thing is that most of these illnesses are manageable, treatable, and even preventable.

From nutritional health issues such as obesity to the more complex health challenges like cancer, here are some of the most common ailments in the modern world and how to treat them along with their treatment solutions.

1. Lumbago and Dorsalgia (Back Pain) 

Respectively, these are terms used to refer to the lower back and upper back pain. Back pain, in general, is among the most common ailments of the modern-day. This may be linked to the fact that most people in modern society lead a sedentary lifestyle that involves a lot of sitting and straining while at work.

In most cases, back pain affects the muscles, but it can also affect the facet joints in the spine.

Nonetheless, a majority of back pain cases cannot be traced to a specific cause. This is why treating back pain often requires an experienced professional or specialists such as a chiropractor.

Common treatment options for back pain may include massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, and medical treatment. Depending on the specific issue, the practitioner may use one or more of conventional and non-conventional approaches when administering treatment.

2. Obesity

With the kind of jobs most of the people are doing, fast-food and junk food are the order of the day. A busy schedule can easily force you to skip breakfast and compensate for this with a proper stomach fill at lunch. Many will also do some grilled meat and beer to wrap up the long day after work.

Modernity has brought about a lot of competition and inflation, leaving many people more focused on chasing the paper and less attentive to their diet. Rather than an abnormality, obesity is a complex disease mostly caused by poor feeding habits and sedentary lifestyles. Treatment mostly involves dietary and lifestyle changes, physical activity, surgery, and weight control medication.  

3. Cancer

Prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer are among the common cancers that have claimed a lot of lives. In general, cancer is among the fatal lifestyle diseases of modern-day, which claimed approximately 9.6 million lives in 2018 globally, according to the WHO. Considering that it has no specific cure, some even consider it a death sentence.

The best treatment for cancer is through prevention, by minimizing risk exposure and getting regular check-ups since it can be easily cured if detected early. Understanding the risk factors of cancer is highly important in prevention.

Other than these, some common treatment options for cancer include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and hormone therapy, just to name a few. It largely depends on the type of cancer you’re suffering from and the extent of the illness.

4. Diabetes

This is a metabolic disorder that affects how the body utilizes blood glucose for energy production, growth, energy production, and other functions.

The disease can be genetic, but if there is an improper distribution of fats in the body, you are more likely to fall for this trap. Heavy drinking, high blood pressure, psychological stress, and high sugar consumption are also common risk factors for diabetes.

Like many other lifestyle diseases, diabetes is apparently incurable. However, it can be treated through medication, dietary changes, exercise, and weight control/reduction. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes such as quitting alcohol intake, avoiding stress, and minimizing sugar intake.

5. Chronic Respiratory Diseases

These include diseases that affect the respiratory system, which is the air exchange system in the human body. Some common ailments in this category include asthma, COPD, bronchitis, sleep apnea, and cystic fibrosis, among others.

In some cases, CRD may also manifest through cardiovascular issues such as rheumatic heart disease, coronary heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Risk factors include genetic pre-exposure, environmental factors, cigarette smoke, dust, chemical inhalations, air pollution, and certain infections.

Treatment may vary depending on the specific ailment, but generally, it includes medication, oxygen support, treating the underlying condition, and lifestyle changes such as cutting back on alcohol as well as quitting cigarette smoking.

With proper palliative care, diagnosis, and screening, early detection for most of these common ailments is possible. A combined effort of minimizing the risks, preventive measures, and medical intervention can help reduce the rate at which people catch these common ailments.