Common diseases: The most common diseases of Germans

2021-07-15T11:03:55.854Z

They endanger the physical well-being of many patients: the so-called common diseases. We reveal how often they occur and which therapies are available.

They endanger the physical well-being of many patients: the so-called common diseases.

We reveal how often they occur and which therapies are available.

Munich - The so-called "widespread diseases" are not only very well known, they can often also be very dangerous for health and life.

But how often do they really happen?

We have summarized the absolute numbers of the most common diseases.

The nationwide disease frequencies come from the "BURDEN 2020" project, which was funded by the innovation fund of the joint federal committee and carried out together with the Robert Koch Institute, the Federal Environment Agency and the AOK Scientific Institute (WIdO).

PART 1: Diseases with a ten-year prevalence

The Burden project divided the diseases into three different categories: cases, one-year prevalence and ten-year prevalence.

We will first look at the diseases with a ten-year prevalence.

Ten-year prevalence means that all people who fell ill between 2007 and 2017 were recorded.

This long examination period is necessary, among other things, because the treatments for the diseases mentioned here can also be lengthy.

5th place: lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in Germany.

Lung cancer can occur in any area of the lungs, but the most common tumors develop in the upper parts of the lungs.

It is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common in women.

Tobacco tax increase: buying cigarettes is becoming more expensive

Most lung cancers are actually due to smoking.

Around 85 percent of all lung cancer deaths in Germany are caused by smoking, according to a study published in 2018 in Deutsches Ärzteblatt by a research team led by Ute Mons.

For this reason, various associations have been calling for an increase in tobacco tax for years.

Among other things, the Rauchfrei Forum (demonstrated in the picture in front of the Federal Ministry of Finance).

The increase in the tobacco tax has now also been decided in the Bundestag, the tax is to rise gradually until 2025.

Repair ability: The regeneration of the lungs

In general, lung diseases account for one sixth of all deaths worldwide.

Despite the ability of the lungs to regenerate, around 0.2% of German citizens will develop lung cancer within ten years.

This corresponds to around 171,000 of the nationwide 82.7 million people who are diagnosed with lung cancer.

4th place: colon cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in Germany, also according to the German Cancer Register.

In ten years the WIdO counted 509,000 cases.

Most of these are "colorectal carcinomas", ie tumors that grow in the large intestine or in the rectum.

The malignant change often originates in only one cell in the lining of the intestine.

Years, sometimes decades, the growth develops into a tumor.

According to the German Cancer Research Center, colon cancer usually develops from benign precursors.

Colon Cancer Screening: Who Is Eligible for Screening and What Is Most Reliable?

Because colon cancer often develops slowly, preventive medical checkups can prevent a number of things.

People aged 50 and over should not wait so long for symptoms to appear.

A regular colonoscopy - currently the most reliable type of colon cancer screening - can detect tumors at an early stage.

If necessary, precursors of cancer, such as benign polyps, can also be removed in the process.

The health insurance pays the examination costs for men aged 55 and over and women aged 55 and over.

Colon Cancer and Cancer Prevention: Healthy Lifestyle Advisable

No precaution in the world can guarantee you will not develop colon cancer.

However, a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk.

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) recommends sufficient exercise and high-fiber food.

In addition, tobacco, alcohol and red meat should only be consumed in small amounts.

3rd place: prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men.

The internal sex organ is also called the prostate gland and produces part of the male seminal fluid.

Its function is controlled by the hormone testosterone.

Cancer screening: when should the prostate be examined?

Often, symptoms and cancer of the prostate cannot be assigned immediately because it is positioned directly above the bladder and the symptoms are relatively unspecific.

Since the posterior part of the prostate is adjacent to the rectum, the doctor can feel it and examine it for tumors with a simple examination.

Every man aged 45 and over in Germany can take advantage of such a palpation examination once a year.

A PSA test, which measures the level of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, is not covered by the health insurance companies.

Causes and Frequency: Prostate cancer does not have to be a death sentence

Even if the ten-year prevalence of prostate cancer is 630,000, i.e. around 60,000 men develop it annually, the cancer no longer has to be a death sentence.

According to the DKFZ, cancer grows relatively slowly, especially in the early stages.

Despite its frequency, the causes and risks of prostate cancer remain relatively unexplored.

According to previous studies in cancer research, how healthy a man lives has hardly any influence.

The risk of illness increases with age.

2nd place: breast cancer

According to the German Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

More than 17,000 women affected die from it every year.

Nevertheless, the following applies: If the disease is recognized in time, the chances of recovery are high.

Breast cancer risk increases with age

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.

Younger women are rarely affected.

On the other hand, the risk of breast cancer increases from the age of 40 and above all from the age of 50.

It then decreases again at the age of 70.

Breast cancer screening can save lives

The ten-year prevalence of breast cancer during the study period was 894,000 among 41.9 million women.

The disease can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle and regular preventive care.

Once a year, doctors scan the patients' mammary glands and lymph nodes in the armpits, clavicle and sternum.

The shape and size of the breast and nipples are also checked.

In the case of particularly vulnerable aging groups (50 to 69 years), a mammogram is also carried out every two years.

1st place: stroke

When a stroke occurs, the brain suffers a sudden problem with blood circulation.

Due to the acute circulatory disorder in the brain, the brain cells do not receive enough oxygen.

The brain can be damaged which in the worst case scenario is irreparable.

Stroke: Causes can also run in the family

The causes of a stroke are very different.

Hereditary predisposition as well as high blood pressure and diabetes can increase the risk.

An unhealthy diet (obesity) or excessive alcohol consumption and smoking also increase it.

Persistent stress, whether professional or private, and a lack of exercise are also possible reasons for a stroke.

Quick help after stroke is extremely important

The time to first aid is crucial for those affected after a stroke.

Prompt treatment can result in a full recovery afterwards.

The ten-year prevalence is 1.17 million.

PART 2: Diseases with a one-year prevalence

The diseases with a one-year prevalence are examined below.

This means that those people were recorded who fell ill with the following diseases in 2017:

11th place: Type 1 diabetes - causes of the autoimmune disease

Diabetes mellitus is often referred to as "diabetes" and can be divided into different types: In contrast to type 2 diabetes, type 1, which usually occurs in childhood, can often be traced back to a hereditary predisposition.

Unlike type 2 and contrary to many prejudices, a type 1 infection initially has little to do with a child's sugar consumption.

Occasionally a disease can also be favored by external influences, for example by a virus infection.

Injecting insulin for life: what does type 1 diabetes mean?

According to the Burden project, around 0.3% of Germans are affected by type 1 diabetes each year, which corresponds to around 236,000 cases.

The German Diabetes Foundation estimates that around 3,100 children and adolescents up to the age of 17 fall ill every year.

In type 1 diabetes, the body destroys the beta cells in its own pancreas through a misdirected immune reaction.

They are responsible for the production of insulin.

The vital hormone stimulates the cells to absorb and process sugar from the blood.

The blood sugar level is lowered.

Injecting, pumping, measuring: lifelong therapy for type 1 diabetes

Because the beta cells do not regenerate, type 1 diabetes is chronic.

Those affected have to inject insulin and check their blood sugar levels for life.

The technology for this has developed significantly over the years.

For example, a sensor with a needle can constantly measure the blood sugar level and send the data to a smartphone.

Insulin pumps can inject insulin into the abdomen via a catheter at the push of a button.

However, type 1 diabetes is still associated with constant restrictions.

If the blood sugar level is permanently too high, this can have serious consequences and damage organs, nerves and blood vessels in the long term.

10th place: dysthymia

Dysthymia is a mental illness.

Affected people are chronically mildly depressed.

Sick people persistently suffer from a depressed mood.

This lasts continuously for at least two years or even longer.

Symptoms of dysthymia are diverse

Symptoms of dysthymia include listlessness, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty concentrating.

Sick people often withdraw from their social environment.

The one-year prevalence of the disease was 652,000 in 2017.

But there is an option to treat dysthymia.

Dual treatment recommended for dysthymia

The German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology recommends a combined treatment: On the one hand, the patient should be given antidepressant medication and also receive psychotherapy.

9th place: heart failure due to hypertensive heart disease

Hypertensive heart disease is a disease of the heart muscle that is caused by chronic high blood pressure.

The one-year prevalence for such heart failure, i.e. heart failure, was 1.04 million.

Symptoms of heart failure due to hypertensive heart disease

The typical symptoms of cardiac insufficiency vary in nature.

Those affected may experience shortness of breath, tiredness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, cardiac arrhythmias, nausea or swollen limbs.

Lowering blood pressure as the basis of treatment

When treating heart failure due to hypertensive heart disease, one first tries to stabilize the patient's blood pressure.

Once this has reached a normal level, drug therapy can be started.

The use of a pacemaker is also a possible treatment.

8th place: angina pectoris

Most often, angina pectoris occurs as a result of coronary heart disease.

Sufferers feel severe pain in the chest area, which is often caused by constricted coronary arteries.

Angina pectoris: surgery unavoidable if the symptoms are severe

Sometimes the symptoms caused by angina pectoris can make surgery unavoidable.

The one-year prevalence of the disease is 1.25 million.

7th place: Alzheimer's and other dementias

If you suffer from dementia, your memory and ability to concentrate decrease over time.

Alzheimer's is the most common dementia.

In some cases, medication or therapy can slow the disease progression.

Alzheimer's and other dementias: family history increases risk

When it comes to whether you are at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, your own family plays a major role.

Anyone who has already suffered from dementia in their relatives is exposed to an increased risk.

High blood pressure, poor blood sugar and blood fat levels, and being overweight can also promote the disease.

Brain teasers against Alzheimer's and other dementias

Affected people should playfully fight their dementia.

For example, through tasks that stimulate the mind.

Alzheimer's and other dementias have a one-year prevalence of 1.54 million.

6th place: heart failure due to coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of heart failure.

The CHD cause the vessels to narrow.

The result is an insufficient supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

The heart failure can also become chronic as a result.

The one-year prevalence was 1.61 million.

Symptoms of heart failure due to coronary artery disease differ

CHD can express itself in very different ways.

The symptoms range from tenderness or tightness in the chest (angina pectoris) to shortness of breath and cardiac arrhythmias.

Pain in the jaw, teeth, shoulders, arms or back and upper abdomen can also be signs of CHD.

Sometimes those affected also complain of nausea and sweating.

In addition to drug treatment, medical professionals advise lifestyle adjustments (see below).

5th place: COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

The lung disease COPD has so far been considered incurable.

In sick people, it is characterized by inflamed and permanently narrowed airways.

The main cause is smoking a cigarette - according to netdoktor.de, 90% of patients are (ex) smokers.

Passive smokers can also develop COPD.

In addition, regular irritation of the lungs from fine dust or similar pollutants in the air can cause the disease.

COPD significantly reduces life expectancy

Anyone suffering from COPD has to endure several symptoms.

Above all shortness of breath, coughing and sputum are frequent companions.

In the course of the disease, other organs in addition to the lungs are often affected.

The life expectancy of people with COPD is estimated to decrease by five to seven years.

The one-year prevalence of COPD was 3.85 million.

4th place: Coronary artery disease

As already described, coronary artery disease (CHD) results from the narrowing of the coronary arteries.

The inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart causes chest tightness or shortness of breath.

This causes damage to the organ in the long term.

Coronary heart disease affected nearly five million people

CHD can have dramatic consequences.

The sick person can suffer a heart attack or develop cardiac insufficiency or cardiac arrhythmias.

Coronary heart disease had a one-year prevalence of 4.91 million.

Doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet, weight loss, smoking cessation and exercise in the fresh air.

3rd place: Anxiety and stress disorders

Signs of this disease are a general tension as well as fear and irritability in those affected.

An anxiety disorder is a constant fear that something bad is about to happen.

This often leads to sick people constantly thinking about everyday things full of worry.

Those affected live in constant worry

Sick people have often experienced bad or traumatic things in their past.

The tormenting memories of it can put a strain on the psyche.

The same applies if those affected experience their trauma over and over again in their thoughts.

The one-year prevalence of anxiety and stress disorders was 5.04 million during the study period.

However, those affected often suffer from the disease for years before they seek treatment from a therapist.

In general, however, the following applies: the sooner you seek help, the better the chances of improvement.

2nd place: Type 2 diabetes

The metabolic disease type 2 diabetes causes blood sugar levels to rise.

In those affected, the body cells absorb insulin only poorly and cannot use it well.

The disease often only becomes noticeable in old age.

That is why it is also called "adult diabetes".

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes vary widely

Anyone suffering from type 2 diabetes has high blood sugar levels over the long term and must measure them regularly.

Symptoms often only appear over time in sick people.

This includes a strong feeling of thirst and frequent urination, but also tiredness, lack of drive, nausea and dizziness.

The one-year prevalence was 7.11 million.

"Diabetic foot": In some cases, there is a risk of amputation

Type 2 diabetes can have serious health consequences.

It can lead to cardiovascular diseases or damage the eyes, kidneys or nerves (microvascular complications).

If patients develop a so-called "diabetic foot", circulatory disorders can occur in the legs and feet, and there is a risk of tissue dying.

In the worst case, an amputation will be necessary.

1st place: depression

The most common mental illness in this ranking is depression.

Their possible symptoms are numerous.

These include a persistently depressed mood, reduced drive or loss of interest.

Physical symptoms such as insomnia, poor appetite or general pain can also be signs of depression.

Treatment for depression: antidepressants and psychotherapy

The one-year prevalence of depression in 2017 was 7.46 million.

Depression can get so bad that it can make people grapple with suicidal thoughts.

Therapy consists either of drug treatment with antidepressants, psychotherapy or, in many cases, a combination of these two.

PART 3: Cases

For the last two illnesses in this photo story, according to the background information of the Burden project, "due to possible multiple illnesses, a rate was determined that is calculated from the number of cases per 100,000 insured years."

2nd place: heart attack

According to the Robert Koch Institute, cardiovascular diseases - i.e. those originating from the vascular system or the heart - are still the most common cause of death in Germany.

Heart attack is one of them: it is usually a blood clot that clogs a narrowed heart muscle and thus blocks the supply of oxygen to the heart.

The muscle can no longer pump and the person concerned is in mortal danger.

Quick help - these symptoms will help you recognize a heart attack

Kommt es zum Herzinfarkt, zählt jede Sekunde. Um es mit den Worten des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Internisten zu sagen: „time is muscle“ („Zeit ist Muskel“) - mit jeder Sekunde kann wichtiges Gewebe absterben. Deshalb ist es elementar, erste Anzeichen schnell zu erkennen und unverzüglich den Notruf zu wählen. Folgende Symptome können laut Deutscher Herzstiftung auf einen Infarkt hindeuten:

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Angstschweiß mit kalter, blasser Haut
However, unspecific symptoms also occur, especially in women.
For example,
nausea
,
vomiting
,
shortness of breath
or pain in the upper abdomen

Heart attack: Fewer and fewer cases in Germany - only increase in certain population groups

According to the RKI, heart attacks are becoming increasingly rare as the cause of death.

The incidence of heart attacks has fallen sharply over the past 20 years.

The Burden project listed 186,000 cases.

An acute infarct can now be treated faster and better, so the conclusion of the RKI.

However, with one caveat: the lower the social status, the higher the risk of a heart attack.

1st place: lower respiratory tract infections

Infections of the lower respiratory tract include, for example, bronchitis, flu and whooping cough, but also pneumonia and an infection with the coronavirus *.

The rate based on the number of cases per 100,000 insured years was 9.7 million.

However, it must be noted: The year of investigation was 2017 - Covid19 is not included in the numbers.

Respiratory infection: Patients with previous illnesses are particularly at risk

Pneumonia is the most common cause of death among infectious diseases in Europe.

The flu can also be fatal for those who are sick.

People who have previously suffered from diabetes, suffered from heart or lung disease, as well as asthmatics and neurologically ill people are particularly at risk. *

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-07-15