More than 332 million people live in rural and urban areas throughout the united states. People struggle with common health problems and diseases in the United States of America. It is a global health issue and is limited to the United States of America.
Using a score between 0 to 1, the National BCBS Health Index Score is 0.9, which means Americans lived at 90% of their optimal health. This indicates that still there is a scope for a 10% healthier population but there are very common problems and health issues around the world.
There is a huge difference between the health index score of developed and underdeveloped nations and community health problems vary from country to country.
Common Health Problems and Medical Issues Causing Death 
There are numerous causes of death but it’s an outcome of common health problems and diseases in most cases. According to the CDC report 2022, the top 10 causes of death and the approximate number of total deaths per year in the united states of America are:
- Kidney Disease – Nephritis, Nephrotic syndrome, and Nephrosis – 52,547 (2%)
- Diabetes or High Blood Sugar – 102,188 (4%)
- Alzheimer’s Disease – 134,242 (5%)
- Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease – 152,657 (6%)
- Cerebrovascular Diseases Like Stroke – 160,264 (6%)
- Accidental Injuries – 200,955 (8%)
- Covid – 19, Influenza, and Pneumonia – 404,375 (16%)
- Cancer – 602,350 (24%)
- Heart Disease – 696,962 (28%)
Most Common Medical Conditions That Have the Greatest Impact on American’s Quality of Life
High Blood Pressure (Impact on Quality Life 12.5%)
Hypertension is at the top of the list of global health issues and medical conditions impacting most and leading to many other chronic health conditions and complications. Hypertension is also called the silent killer because it has no early symptoms but it causes extra load on the heart, arteries, and kidneys.
Hypertension is a very common disease, it is caused by the narrowing of the arteries resulting in high pressure on artery walls to flow through the blood within it. High blood pressure in your arteries can cause a heart attack or stroke. Hypertension can be associated with old age, diabetes, smoking, obesity, stress, and anxiety.
Depression A Major Health Issue Today (Impact on Quality Life 9.0%)
Depression is also in the top 3 list of common health problems and diseases, which frequently goes undiagnosed or untreated in most cases. It’s a medical condition characterized by a sense of hopelessness and despair, making it difficult to sleep or eat, and it affects your work also.
Depression is a very big health issue today. Our lifestyle, ambitions to be on the top, insecurities, mistrust, and peer pressure are the major causes of anxiety disorders and depression.
High Cholesterol (Impact on Quality Life 8.5%)
Dietary habits, lack of exercise, and a sedentary lifestyle are the major cause of high cholesterol levels in your blood. When you eat fatty foods more, it leads to higher production of the cholesterol deposited in your blood vessels. It causes the narrowing of your arteries which leads to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. High cholesterol is one of the most dangerous health conditions among all common health problems and diseases.
Heart Attack – Coronary Artery Diseases (Impact on Quality Life 7.0%)
Your lifestyle, dietary habits, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, and high blood pressure can all damage the inner layer of your arteries. Over time, the damage worsens as arteries become thick and narrow leading to coronary artery disease. Thick artery and cholesterol deposits or a blood clot in the coronary artery cause the insufficient blood supply to your heart which puts you at high risk of a heart attack.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Impact on Quality Life 6%)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes mellitus is the most common medical condition. In people with DM2 (Diabetes mellitus 2), the blood sugar level remains higher than normal blood sugar levels. The most common cause of DM2 is dietary habits, lack of exercise, obesity, and lack of physical activities in about 90% population in the population of America. This is one of the major health issues and global health issues.
Drug Addiction or Substance Use Disorder (Impact on Quality Life 3.5%)
Substance abuse is a drug use disorder. A substance use disorder involves dependence and addiction to a medication, drug, or toxin. It falls under the health conditions of common health problems and diseases like anxiety, stress, and depression. Addiction can cause serious medical complications, physical and mental trauma even death.
Compulsive Alcohol Use (Impact on Quality Life 3.3%)
Alcohol use disorder is defined as chronic relapsing brain disease which is characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol use, and a negative emotional state when not using alcohol. Very high levels of alcohol in the blood can lead to Liver Failure, coma, or even death. If a patient wants to withdraw alcohol, then he or she can have symptoms of hallucinations or even seizures.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) (Impact on Quality Life 3.2%)
Chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs, COPD causes obstruction to airflow into the lungs which is a major common health problem worldwide in regular smokers. Cigarette smoking and air pollution cause chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Psychotic Disorders (Impact on Quality Life 3.0%)
People with delusional disorders and schizophrenia, often have trouble maintaining reality which impacts on quality of life of the person. Peer pressure, anxiety, work pressure, and stress lead to psychotic disorders. Psychotic disorders are on top of global health issues in terms of their impact on quality of life.
Ulcerative Colitis/ Crohn’s Disease (Impact on Quality Life 2.7%)
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract especially the small intestine and part of the large intestine. This can be autoimmune but in most cases, inflammation can be caused due to your dietary habits. Ulcerative colitis can lead to ulceration, abscesses, malnutrition, and fistulas in the digestive tract. This is a very common health-related issue and can lead to even life-threatening complications.
Top 10 Most Common Health-Related Issues
Following are the top 10 Most common health conditions listed under global health issues:
- Nutrition and Lack of Physical Activity
- Dietary Habits, Overweight and Obesity
- Tobacco Uses and Smoking
- Substance Abuse and Drug Addiction
- Mental health and Psychotic Disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- Violence and Accidental Injuries
- Environmental Qualities
- Immunization
- Access to Quality Healthcare
