There is no denying that we have come a long way. It all started with the development of the smallpox vaccine to the development of MRI machines, 3-D organ printing and gene sequencing. Yet after all these recent medical advances that can and have changed the face of patient care, we still have a few diseases that remain incurable.
Also known as chronic diseases, these medical issues do not have medical treatment with proven effectiveness and minimal side effects. Although, there are still ongoing medical trials but they are yet to declare ground-breaking success.
Today in this blogpost, we will be discussing some of these diseases that remain incurable but can be managed with lifestyle changes and medications.
Asthma
First on the list is asthma. Although there is no cure for asthma, its symptoms can be managed through treatment options that include inhalers, rotacap capsules, and nebulisers.
Being a chronic disease, a patient suffering from the disease may develop respiratory infections from time to time, especially when the season changes or when they are exposed to something that triggers their asthma. Vigorous physical activities can also pose a threat to those suffering from asthma.
There is still ongoing research but a definite cure is yet to be discovered. Recent innovations include the development of smart inhalers that make patient care easier.
Alzheimer’s disease
Associated with cognitive issues such as memory, thinking and behaviour, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia with no cure. The greatest risk factor is age as it is most commonly found in patients over 65 years of age.
Even though there is no cure, there are several treatments that can help manage the symptoms. These include aducanumab and lecanemab, which are effective in cases of early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments work on temporarily slowing down the deterioration of the symptoms and improving the quality of life.
Diabetes
Unfortunately, diabetes has become common in India. One in five people suffer from it. While the disease remains incurable, its symptoms can be managed with several lifestyle changes including taking a balanced diet, limiting junk food and added sugar, walking and exercising.
Recent developments in the treatment include insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Other breakthroughs include the approval of a new medication, tirzepatide, which enhances the control of blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The approval of the first immune therapy delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes is another breakthrough.
Dengue
You may be surprised to find dengue on the list. The symptoms of dengue may be treated but the disease cannot be cured. Most people infected with dengue virus ideally experience a full recovery within a week but no medicine cures it.
At the same time, there is no vaccine that can prevent dengue. Hence, you must exercise caution to prevent the infection as it can also be serious in most cases. Prevention tips include wearing full-sleeved clothes and preventing water from stagnating at home to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.
Hepatitis B
It is a virus that can infect your liver, ultimately causing inflammation. For some patients, the infection may be acute. However, in some cases, it can also become chronic. A chronic infection can inflict damage to the liver in the long run. Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, it can still be prevented through a vaccine.
Cancer
Cancer had to make it to the list because even after years of dedicated research all around the world, there is still no known cure for cancer – for any type of cancer for that matter. There may be treatments in the initial stages of cancer, but it is the final stages that remain completely incurable, and even fatal. Even the treatments we have, do not promise recovery and effectiveness as cancer can be recurring. There may also be side effects of these treatment options.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain condition mostly associated with age. The condition can cause tremors, slowed movements, issues balancing and more. Although the cause of the disease is unknown, it is usually genetic. Once again, the condition is not curable, but there are treatment options available. Some of the recent developments include focused ultrasound and gene therapy.
Closing thoughts
Although we do not have the cures for these diseases, it is essential to recognise the many developments, advancements and breakthroughs that have taken place in recent years, making the treatments more effective and simple.
There is a long way to go but the research is promising enough to say that if not today, tomorrow we may have a cure for these diseases.
