8 Interesting Facts About Common Diseases

The human body and mind still hold endless secrets that science has not been able to decipher to this day. However, over the years, researchers have been able to uncover several curious tidbits about common diseases.

In this article, we want to share with you some of these discoveries of medical science. We are sure more than one will leave you speechless! Are you ready to read more about this? Let’s take a look soon!

Interesting facts about common diseases

1. By the time you turn 75, you will have had at least 150 colds

Several studies have concluded that each of us usually catches two to five colds a year. If you take into account the current life expectancy in, for example, Spain (83 years), then everyone has had at least 166 colds in their lifetime!

2. The common cold virus is not just one virus

Of course not! In fact, there are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, making it one of the common illnesses that everyone knows about.

Because there are so many different species, the human body can never develop sufficient resistance to this disease. Rhinoviruses are among the most common viruses that cause the common cold.

3. Kids can get up to 12 colds a year

Parents can confirm that this is true. How often does it happen that your child has a cold and then recovers after two days. You let your child go back to school and then he or she comes out of school with a snot. There seems to be no end to it.

4. A quarter of people with a cold experience no symptoms

We are all familiar with the symptoms of a cold: coughing, sneezing and/or having a runny nose. After all, it is one of the common diseases that we all suffer from on a regular basis.

However, not everyone knows that some people can be infected with one of the viruses that cause a cold but have no symptoms.

5. A sneeze can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h!

The fact is that measuring the speed of a sneeze is not easy, but this is what specialists have calculated. For a little perspective: greyhounds can reach 60 km/h when they run!

• In some cases, a sneeze can even exceed this speed.
• The droplets that are released can reach up to five meters away!

6. Viruses from common diseases can survive on different surfaces

When you sneeze, you spread the virus particles around you and they can remain active on different surfaces. For example, the influenza flu virus can survive on certain surfaces for about 24 hours and the common cold virus for up to seven days!

Do you now understand why it is so important to cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when you sneeze? That way you prevent spreading virus particles and infecting others.

7. Influenza Virus Flu is Constantly Evolving

Flu due to the influenza virus is one of the common illnesses that people most often contract in their entire lives. You probably know that there are three types of flu that are most common:

• influenza type A: This is the most virulent and affects humans and birds.
• Type B Influenza: This is the most common and only affects people.
• influenza type C: This is less common and affects both humans and animals.

8. Over the past century, we’ve had several influenza epidemics

Today, flu due to influenza is a common illness that people usually don’t pay attention to. However, as we have already seen, it is extremely easy to transmit through saliva. However, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia.

• The Spanish flu lasted from 1918 to 1919 and affected 40% of the world’s population. In fact, it has claimed the lives of about 50 million people around the world. An interesting fact: despite its name, it did not originate in Spain, but in the United States.
• Asian flu originated in China in 1957 through the mutation of a virus transmitted by mallard ducks in combination with a human strain.

• The Hong Kong flu caused about a million deaths in 1968. Thanks to advances in technology, scientists developed a vaccine that prevented further loss of life.
• The 1976 flu epidemic caused more than 12,000 victims and caused panic among the population, as the virus was similar to that of the great epidemic of 1918.
• The first outbreak of bird flu was in Hong Kong in 1997. The virus was identified as H5N1 and after the problem appeared to be under control, it resurfaced in Asia and Europe in 2003.

As you can see, while you know how to deal with common diseases, there are many facts you may not have known. We hope we surprised you with some of these interesting facts. Until next time!