Have you ever considered the fact that how you or your family would make both ends meet should you contract a critical illness in the future? Probably the most worrying fact with critical illness is that disability may occur after treatment. Fortunately, nowadays good and efficient medical techniques may have reduced the major causes of death. However, certain critical illness conditions still affect a considerable amount of people worldwide. Let's have a look at some of these figures.



A critical illness such as cancer may as usual top the list. The imperial cancer research fund 2005, states that cancer may be responsible for around 24 percent of all deaths in the UK. Also, according to the British Heart Foundation, each year in the UK, about 300,000 people may become victims of a critical illness like heart attack. For around 150,000 people, it may be the first time that they have contracted this disease. Nearly 50 percent of all heart attacks that occur may be deadly. Besides, among people under the age of 75, cancer may surpass critical illness conditions resulting from circulatory malfunctions, heart disease and stroke all combined in death rates.

Moreover, in the year 2005, there may have been approximately 153,000 cases of a critical illness like cancer in the UK. Death due to cancer may occur mainly among aged people, especially the high 60's. But a greater death amount may have taken place concerning younger people. Cancer, a life threatening critical illness may have been responsible for around 36 percent of people under the age of 65 in the UK. Women may be mostly affected by this critical illness. A common form of cancer among women may be the breast cancer. Figures from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund reveal that 46 percent of deaths among women under the age of 65 may have been due to a critical illness like cancer. In the other hand, the critical illness may have made around 16 percent less deaths concerning men.

Furthermore, the fact remains that nearly 75 percent of healthy people may suffer from a critical illness at some point in their lives. Some figures could support this fact. As per the American Heart Association, every 26 seconds an American may suffer from a critical illness like coronary heart attack. Additionally, around 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who may have died suddenly of coronary heart disease may have had no previous symptoms of this critical illness. Also, according to Heart and Stroke Statistical Update 2007, an American may suffer from a critical illness like stroke each 45 seconds. As per the 2007 Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, men may have a one-in-two lifetime risk of developing some form of cancer. For women, the risk may be one in three.

Seen these figures about the various causes of critical illness that still exist, the idea about buying out a critical illness cover may crop into one's mind. Critical illness cover may take care of one's family by preventing the occurrence of a financial breakdown due to loss of income in case of critical illness.