Since the advancement of medicine there has been a major breakthrough in the treatment of many diseases. Everyday researchers and medical professionals are making amazing progress towards finding effective treatment and cure for numerous diseases.


Many illnesses that would have killed in the past are no longer a threat. Though there's still a long road ahead of us when it comes to curing some other diseases.


Incurable diseases are diseases that have no cure but there are treatment procedures in place to manage them.


Terminal diseases should not be confused with incurable diseases. For example, late-stage cancer, AIDS and some forms of heart diseases are terminal diseases as they likely would result in death of patient within the near future (usually in few months).


People who have incurable diseases will likely undergo treatments for the duration of their entire life but that doesn't mean they can't live a normal life. If treatments are followed the patient can live a long, full life. In fact, the treatments can alleviate symptoms to the point where outsiders may not even notice that the person is ill.


Here we are going to discuss 15 incurable diseases, there risk factors and treatments in place for such diseases.


1. Diabetes
Before we discuss diabetes we have to know what role insulin plays in the body. Insulin is an hormone produced by the pancreas (an organ found behind the stomach). Insulin is responsible for the regulation of blood glucose levels. The body needs glucose for energy to perform daily activities.


As of 2014, according to World Health Organization, about 422 million people were living with diabetes. Children and young adult are commonly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition where the pancreas produces no insulin. Patient with type 1 diabetes mostly use insulin injection to control their blood glucose levels.


Majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and it is mostly seen in adults. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas produces little insulin or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. Type 2 diabetes is largely as a result of obesity.


People with type 2 diabetes can manage it by controlling their weight, watching their diets and exercising regularly. Others may need to take pills or insulin injections.


2. Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can be fatal if left untreated. Hepatitis B is most commonly spread by exposure to infected bodily fluids such as sexual intercourse without protection, sharing of needles, accidental needle sticks, or from mother to child.


Acute Hepatitis B infection usually last less than six months, your immune system likely can fight it off and you should recover completely within few months.


Chronic Hepatitis B infection last longer than six months. It stays because your immune system can't fight it off, it can remain undetected for several years and can possibly lead to serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis (scaring of the liver) or liver cancer. As of 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 257 million of people were living with chronic Hepatitis B infection.


Hepatitis B is treated by oral medications. In most people the treatment does not cure Hepatitis B, it only suppress the replication of the virus. Therefore, most people who start the treatment must continue it throughout their lifetime.


3. HIV/AIDS
HIV is the most commonly recognized sexually transmitted diseases but it can also be contacted through other means such as contact with infected blood, mother to child during pregnancy and through breastfeeding.


HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system. The immune system helps the body to fight against infections. When the virus attacks the immune system, the body becomes vulnerable and defenseless to many infections and diseases.


According to World Health Organization (WHO), HIV has claimed more than 32 million lives. As of 2018 the percentage of HIV death falls by 45% with approximately 14 million lives saved due to HIV medicine.


HIV if left untreated can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) which is the late stage of HIV infection. That's when the virus has badly damage the immune system.


There is no cure for HIV and AIDS however, it can be treated by taking HIV medicine called Antiretroviral therapy (ART). With that people with HIV can live a healthy and longer life and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partner and also reduce the risk of mother to child transmission.


4. Alzheimer's and some other forms of dementia
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. The disease is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the brain cell to degenerate resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. According to Alzheimer's Organization, alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80% of dementia in the United States.


It mostly affect older people ages 65 and above, but alzheimer's organization says younger people below 65 can also develop alzheimer's disease. Symptoms in alzheimer's usually develop gradually and worsen over time and interfering with daily activities.


The exact cause of alzheimer's disease is not fully understood but scientists believe most cases are linked with the combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Other risk factors include, down syndrome, thyroid malfunction, previous head trauma, etc.


There is no cure for alzheimer's disease however, medicine, a number of lifestyle and diet changes such as quiting smoking, exercising regularly, eating fresh produce, using healthy oils, and eating foods low in saturated fats may reduce the symptoms of alzheimer's disease.


5. Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in the body. Anything that may cause a normal body cell to develop abnormally can potentially cause cancer. According to cancer research, there are over 200 types of cancer. Cancers are classified depending on the organ the abnormal cell growth starts with, most common symptoms of cancer are: fatigue, weight loss, pain, skin changes, change in bowel or bladder function, unusual bleeding, persistent cough or voice change, fever, lumps, or tissue masses.


Cancer is caused by mutations to the DNA within cells. Some cancer cause are unknown while others have lifestyle and environmental triggers. Risk factors of cancer include, age, habits (such as smoking, drinking alcohol), family history, environmental factor (such as exposure to chemicals e.g benzene, asbestos, radiation), etc.


There is no cure for cancer but there are treatments to help reduce incidence and mortality rate for all cancer types.


6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. The primary cause of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. Other risk factors include exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, exposure to industrial dusts and fumes.


According to World Health Organization (WHO), 3.17 million of COPD deaths were reported in 2015.


COPD makes breathing difficult. Some common symptoms of COPD are: difficult breathing, cough, and wheezing. Long term COPD increase the risk of developing heart diseases, lung cancer and many other conditions.


COPD has no cure, but treatments such as medications, supplemental oxygen therapy, and surgery can help alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of death.


7. Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. It occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own healthy tissues and organs causing inflammatory and pain in any part of your body. According to Lupus Foundation of America, lupus mostly affects the skin, joints and internal organs such as kidneys and heart.


The cause of lupus is unknown but doctors believe something triggers your immune system to attack your body.


Anyone can develop lupus but it is most common among women. Lupus Foundation of America says 9 out of 10 person with lupus are women. Other risk factors include: race/ethnic (people of African, Asian and native American decent have higher chances of lupus), age (women between the age of 14 to 45 are mostly affected), family history, contact with viruses and chemicals may also trigger lupus.


Symptoms of lupus varies from person to person. Common symptoms are: fever, swollen joints, constant fatigue, skin rash, sensitivity to the sun and other lights, mouth and nose sore, hair loss, etc.


Lupus has no cure but there are medical treatments to manage it.


8. Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder resulting in lack of control over movement, poor balancing and coordination. Parkinson's disease occurs when the levels of dopamine in the brain decreases resulting in abnormal brain activities. Parkinson's itself is not fatal, but disease complications can be serious.


The cause of the disease is unknown but age plays an important role in the development of Parkinson's disease. It affects mostly older people age 65 or above.


Common symptoms of Parkinson's include: tremors or shaking of hands, arms, legs, jaw or head, stiffness of arms, legs and trunk, slowed movement, trouble with balance and coordination. Parkinson's disease is not hereditary and does not run in family except there are many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease.


Although Parkinson's disease has no cure, medications may significantly improve the symptoms. Sometimes brain surgery may be performed to improve symptoms.


9. Asthma
Asthma is a long term respiratory condition in which the airways narrow and swell. It makes breathing difficult and can make some physical activities challenging. According to WHO more than 339 million people suffers from asthma. It is the number 1 most common disease among children.


Symptoms of asthma can varies from mild to severe, it includes: wheezing, tightness in the chest, fatigue, coughing especially at night or when laughing or during exercise.


The cause of asthma is unknown but researchers believe the breathing condition is caused by various factors such as genetics, exposure to cigarette smoke, obesity, viral infection illness (e.g Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV)) during childhood, etc.


Common asthmatic triggers are: allergies, exercise, odour exposure, viral infections, etc.


Although asthma has no cure it can be controlled by medications administered via inhalers.


10. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that can affect how a person thinks, acts, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia interpret reality abnormally, they find it difficult to distinguish what's real and what's imagined.


According to WHO, schizophrenia affects more than 20 million people globally. Schizophrenia itself is not a fatal illness however, they main cause of premature deaths in schizophrenia is suicide.


Common symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, catatonia, abnormal behavior, incoherent speech, etc. The exact cause of schizophrenia isn't known however, there are some number of things that can make someone more likely to develop schizophrenia, it includes: genetics, brain abnormality, environmental factors (e.g. exposure to marijuana, viral infections, etc.)


Anyone can develop schizophrenia. It affects people all around the world from all ethnic and culture. While schizophrenia can occur in any age, it is most common during teenage years or early 20's.


The condition is incurable but it can be treated with medications, coordinated speciality care, psychosocial therapy.


11. Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a wide range of symptoms including weakness, visual problems, depression, difficulties with coordination and speech, impaired mobility and disability.


MS happens when the immune system attacks the myelin, a white fatty material that protect the nerves fibre. Without this material, the nerves become damaged disrupting the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.


According to National Multiple Sclerosis society, the cause of MS is unknown but researchers believe a combination of genetics and environmental factors can contribute to the risk of developing it.


MS affects more women than men and most people with MS are diagnosed between the age of 20 and 50. There is no cure for MS but there are a number of treatments to help relieve symptoms.


12. Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly contagious disease caused by poliovirus. The virus attacks the central nervous system and can cause total paralysis. The virus is transmitted from person to person primarily through the faecal-oral route. The virus enters through the month or respiratory system and multiplies in the throat and intestine. It can travel through the blood to the central nervous system resulting in weakness, paralysis and sometimes deformity.


There is no cure for polio but it can be prevented by polio vaccine.


13. Obesity
Obesity is an excessive accumulation of body fats. Obesity also means to be extremely overweight.


To understand overweight and obesity you have to know what Body Mass Index (BMI) means. BMI is the measure of the weight (kg) of a person divided by the square of their height (m). The unit of BMI is kg/m2.


As an adult, you are overweight if your BMI is between 25-29.9 and if your BMI is over 30, you are obese.


Obesity is harmful to one's health as it is a risk factor for many disease conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, congestive heart failure, cancer and many more diseases. Causes of obesity includes: overeating, physical inactivity, genetics, etc.


Although there is no cure for obesity, it can be treated by changing of lifestyle such as regular physical activities, limit of energy intake from total fats and sugars, consumption of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.


14. Progeria
Progeria also known as Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, is an extremely rare fatal genetic condition that causes a child to age faster. Children with progeria are born looking healthy and normal, but by the age of two years signs and symptoms such as growth failure, hair loss, visible veins, thinning and wrinkled skin begin to appear.


Most children with progeria do not live past the age of 13.


Progeria is caused by a single gene mutation known as Lamin A, a protein necessary for holding the nucleus of the cell together. When this gene has a defect, it form an abnormal protein that makes the nucleus unstable. This leads to the process of premature aging in progeria.


15. Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a fast growing malignant tumor of the brain. It is mostly common in adults. Glioblastoma grows quickly and out pressure on the brain, symptoms of glioblastoma include: vomiting, seizures, constant headache, blurred vision, and troubled thinking.


There is no cure for glioblastoma but there are treatments to ease symptoms such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc.


16. CoronaVirus disease (COVID-19)
CoronaVirus is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS CoV-2). It was first discovered in Wuhan, China and has since resulted in an ongoing pandemic. According to Wikipedia, as of June 2020 more than 6.74 million cases have been reported across 188 countries.


The virus is primarily spread through saliva droplets, or discharge from nose when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes.


Symptoms of CoronaVirus include: fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. People with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc. are more likely to develop serious illness.


According to WHO, there are no vaccines nor cure for COVID-19.


Source: https://www.lagmedic.com/16-diseases-with-no-cure

Highly informative and appreciated

I disagree with you that Obesity is a disease and it has no cure. It's a stupid absurd statement.

Greatzeus:
I disagree with you that Obesity is a disease and it has no cure. It's a stupid absurd statement.

You can argue correctly that obesity is curable(via Bariatric Surgery) but it'll be highly stupid and absurd of you to say it's not a disease.

I hope you can define the term "disease" according to the WHO?

The lady did well, and you should have given her some accolades.

Some cancers are curable if the patient presents early.

The problem in Nigeria is that patients present late to the hospitals after they must have finished patronising their church pastors/imams, Herbalists, juju houses, quacks, etc, and these thieves that sell stc30.

By so doing, they come with already advanced cancers that have become incurable.

It's not usually like that abroad, where there's insurance and a relatively higher enlightenment.

What about the dreaded "hypertension"?

The OP tried but some diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer are very much treatable completely when met with adequate and intensive treatment.

LIVINGICON:
What about the dreaded "hypertension"?

Very much treatable completely