The Top Ten Adult Health Killers

The following are the top 10 risk factors for chronic disease or illness worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

1. heart disease: the number one cause of death in the United States, and the biggest killer worldwide, according to the WHO.

2. blood pressure: because there are often no symptoms, many people aren't aware their blood pressure is high. Left unchecked, high blood pressure can damage your heart, arteries, brain, and kidneys.

3. cholesterol: high cholesterol can cause heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries).

4. poor diet: low fruit and vegetable consumption is a risk factor for cancer and cardiovascular disease

5. obesity: being obese can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, and stroke.

6. physical inactivity: this can lead to obesity (above), along with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

7. tobacco use: the single largest preventable cause of cancer, smoking also causes various lung problems, heart ailments, and a host of other problems.

8. diabetes: numbness and tingling in your feet or hands (neuropathy) is associated with diabetes, along with kidney failure (nephropathy) and vision problems (retinopathy), which can lead to blindness. Diabetes has also been linked to depression, and can put you at risk for infections.

9. oral health: besides bad breath and gum (periodontal) disease, poor oral health has been associated with respiratory disease, infections and birth abnormalities, in the case of pregnant women with poor oral health.

10. visual impairment: cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness.

Many of these health risk factors are entirely preventable or treatable, without leading to more severe or chronic illness.