{"id":8150,"date":"2015-08-20T16:11:40","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T15:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/?p=8150"},"modified":"2020-08-06T11:12:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T10:12:36","slug":"top-10-causes-of-death-in-the-western-cape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/top-10-causes-of-death-in-the-western-cape\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Causes Of Death In The Western Cape"},"content":{"rendered":"
I know we’re all less willing to discuss death but trust me, you deserve this information as\u00a0it is your right to know the major causes of the cessation of human lives around you. Besides, there’s no point being uncomfortable with discussing death, we’re all in a queue awaiting our turn, and like Plato<\/a> said, “to fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise without really being wise, for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For no one knows whether death may not be the greatest good that can happen to man.\u201d So brace up and read about the top 10<\/a> causes of death in the Western Cape.<\/p>\n See Also: 10 Ideal Way To Survive South Africa Without The Government’s Help<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The symptoms of lower respiratory infections though they\u00a0vary, often include nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever and lethargy. As uncovered<\/a>, lower respiratory infections are more common during winter as people tend to stay indoors and share the same re-circulated air (and germs).<\/p>\n Don’t be confused, the lower respiratory (tract) infection or LTRI is\u00a0a generic term for an acute infection of the trachea, airways and lungs which make up the lower respiratory system. These infections consist of a\u00a0group of illnesses like bronchitis, croup and pneumonia collectively referred to by the term “lower respiratory infection.” And the best preventive measure is to practice good hygiene. You have to for 3.5% of deaths in Western Cape are caused by this infection.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n This generally refers to breathing problems and disorders that affect the lungs and organs that allow us to breathe. Such diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis,\u00a0and emphysema\u00a0Infections, like influenza and pneumonia\u00a0Lung cancer,\u00a0sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis are found here. These diseases work hard to prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. Within the time-frame of this report, 3.7 percent of deaths in Western Cape South Africa are caused by the throat, lung and bronchial diseases.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Based on the fact that most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke, smoking cigarette is regarded as the leading cause of COPD<\/a>, a\u00a0progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. Progressive is emphasized in defining COPD because the disease gets worse over time. There are many symptoms of COPD, the most prominent however includes coughing that produces a lot of slimy substance (mucus), wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Meanwhile, longtime exposure to other lung irritants like air pollution, dust or chemical fumes can also cause COPD. 3.8 percent of the deaths in Western Cape are caused by COPD. So, stay away from the “cancer stick”, smokers being liable to die young isn’t a myth.<\/p>\n Read Also: 8 Most Efficient Ways To Recognize True South African Drug Addicts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Diabetes<\/a>\u00a0accounts for 4.3 percent of the deaths in Western Cape. It\u00a0is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects your body’s ability to use the energy found in food. Usually,\u00a0your body breaks down the sugars and carbohydrates you eat into a special sugar called glucose so as to fuel the cells in your body. When the\u00a0cells can’t take in the glucose, it builds up in your blood\u00a0and high levels of blood glucose can damage the tiny blood vessels in your\u00a0kidneys, heart, eyes, or nervous system. explaining why\u00a0diabetes,\u00a0especially if left untreated can eventually cause heart disease, stroke,\u00a0kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage to nerves in the feet.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4.6 percent of the deaths in Western Cape is as a result of road injuries. You already know about the terrible nature of accidents in South Africa but then did you know that \u00a040 people do die each day on our roads? And that based on the International Transport Forum (ITF) ranking, South Africa is the worst out of 36 others when you consider the number of road fatalities?<\/p>\n Just check this out: Top 5 Most Terrific Road Accidents In South Africa – Video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a>The disease was estimated as the cause of 5.2 percent deaths in Western Cape. It refers to a group of conditions that affect the circulation of blood to the brain thereby causing a limited or no blood flow to affected areas of the brain. As discovered<\/a>, when blood flow is completely obstructed or limited to the brain, it does cause a stroke,\u00a0transient ischemic attacks, or dementia, which can as well lead to a variety of other health complications. Also,\u00a0Cerebrovascular disease primarily affects people who are elderly or have a history of diabetes, smoking, or ischemic heart disease<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n It almost impossible to explain this health condition responsible for 6.5 percent of deaths in Western Cape without using jargon. But then, the next paragraph is probably the best ordinary way to explain ischaemic heart diseases otherwise generally regarded as heart attacks.<\/p>\n Ischaemic heart diseases is a term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries. As observed, when arteries are narrowed, less blood and oxygen are supplied to the heart muscle which leads to discomfort, chest pains, and ultimately result in a heart attack<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Tuberculosis<\/a> is an airborne disease and is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected. Some of the major symptoms of TB include;\u00a0a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest,\u00a0coughing up blood or sputum,\u00a0weakness or fatigue,\u00a0weight loss,\u00a0no appetite,\u00a0chills,\u00a0fever and\u00a0sweating at night. \u00a0Tuberculosis is a major cause of the deaths in Western Cape with 7.4 percent.<\/p>\n See Also: Top 9 Most Awkward South African Health Issues<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n Shame! We kill ourselves more than the diseases killing us. Nobody should be surprised about this, the everyday violence in South Africa has long gone crazy to such extent that we all now considered it a miracle to stay away from trouble especially in certain locations. People are killed by criminals, criminals are killed via mob justice, hate killings, police killings (“accidental discharge”) killings related to rape, the killing of foreigners, stray bullet hits, farm attacks, and a whole load of other reasons for people violently killed in South Africa earning Western Cape 9.2 percent of deaths related to interpersonal violence.<\/p>\nCauses of Death in the Western Cape<\/span><\/h2>\n
10. Lower Respiratory Infections<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 3.5 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9.\u00a0Throat, Lung And Bronchial Diseases<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 3.7 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 3.8 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7.\u00a0Diabetes Mellitus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 4.3 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6.\u00a0Road Injuries<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 4.6 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5.\u00a0Cerebrovascular Diseases (Strokes)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 5.2 Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4.\u00a0Ischaemic Heart Diseases (Heart Attacks)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 6.5\u00a0Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3.\u00a0Tuberculosis<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 7.4\u00a0Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2.\u00a0Interpersonal Violence<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 9.2\u00a0Percent<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
1.\u00a0HIV<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate: 12\u00a0Percent<\/strong><\/h3>\n