Understanding What Are the 14 Diseases: Context, Chronic, and Genetic Conditions

September 21, 2025 •

4 min read

There is no single, universally recognized list that defines exactly what are the 14 diseases, as the phrase depends on its specific context, such as a specialized genetic screening panel or a government classification for disability benefits. This article explores some of the most prominent lists that use this number, revealing why the answer to this question isn't a simple list of 14 conditions. By understanding the different contexts, you can better interpret this common health query.

Quick Summary

The term "what are the 14 diseases" refers to different, context-specific medical classifications, including genetic testing panels and social security disability evaluations, not a single standard list. It highlights the importance of understanding the specific source when referencing this number.

Key Points

No Single List: The term "what are the 14 diseases" does not refer to a standardized, universal list of medical conditions. Its meaning changes depending on the specific context or organization using the term.
Context is Crucial: Examples include a genetic screening panel for prospective parents (Labcorp's Inheritest) or a specific section detailing immune system disorders for disability evaluation (SSA's Chapter 14.00).
Genetic vs. Administrative: The Labcorp list focuses on heritable conditions, while the SSA list covers immune system issues for legal/administrative purposes. These are unrelated to each other and most general health concerns.
Leading Health Issues: For a more general understanding of major diseases, refer to data from organizations like the WHO and CDC, which track leading causes of death and disability, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
Prevention is Key: Regardless of the specific disease, proactive and preventative health measures such as regular screenings, vaccinations, healthy lifestyle choices, and good hygiene are essential for managing health and reducing risk.
Management for Chronic Conditions: For those already living with chronic diseases, proper management through coordination with a care team is critical to control symptoms and slow disease progression.

Why there is no single list of 14 diseases

For many health-related questions, a single, definitive answer can be found. However, with the question of what are the 14 diseases, the answer is more nuanced. This is because the number 14 is used in various contexts by different organizations for their specific purposes. This often causes confusion for individuals seeking information about common illnesses. For example, a commercial lab might screen for 14 specific genetic disorders, while a government agency might categorize a group of 14 immune system disorders for administrative purposes.

The Labcorp Inheritest 14-gene panel

One prominent example that uses the number 14 is a genetic screening panel offered by Labcorp. This panel is designed to test for 14 genetic disorders and can provide valuable information for individuals considering starting a family. The panel includes screening for conditions such as:

Alpha-thalassemia
Beta-hemoglobinopathies (including sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia)
Bloom syndrome
Canavan disease
Familial dysautonomia
Fanconi anemia
Fragile X syndrome
Gaucher disease
Mucolipidosis type IV
Niemann-Pick disease types A and B
Spinal muscular atrophy
Tay-Sachs disease

This is a highly specialized list focused on genetic conditions. It has no relation to other lists that might be considered "the 14 diseases" in a different field.

Social Security Administration's 14.00 immune system disorders

Another context where the number 14 appears is in the Social Security Administration's (SSA) guide for evaluating disability claims, specifically in Chapter 14.00, which covers Immune System Disorders. This chapter details various systemic diseases and conditions that affect the immune system and can qualify a person for disability benefits. The list includes, but is not limited to:

14.02 Systemic lupus erythematosus
14.03 Systemic vasculitis
14.04 Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
14.05 Polymyositis and dermatomyositis
14.06 Undifferentiated and mixed connective tissue disease
14.07 Immune deficiency disorders
14.09 Inflammatory arthritis
14.10 Sjögren's syndrome
14.11 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

This list is entirely different from the genetic panel and serves a specific legal and administrative function, not a diagnostic one. The commonality is only the number 14, which, in this case, is simply a chapter reference.

Comparing different '14 diseases' lists

To highlight the difference, here is a comparison of two prominent examples of lists referred to as "the 14 diseases." These tables demonstrate how the context completely changes the list of conditions.


Condition Type	Example 1 (Labcorp Genetic Panel)	Example 2 (SSA Immune Disorders)
Focus	Heritable genetic disorders	Systemic immune system disorders
Application	Carrier screening for prospective parents	Disability evaluation criteria
Inheritance	Often recessive or X-linked	Autoimmune, infectious, or acquired
Example Conditions	Alpha-thalassemia, Tay-Sachs disease	Systemic lupus erythematosus, HIV infection
Key Outcome	Provides risk information for inherited conditions	Determines eligibility for government benefits

This comparison table clearly illustrates that asking "what are the 14 diseases" is not a straightforward question. It requires additional context to provide a meaningful answer. The purpose of each list is different, and so are the conditions included.

Broadening the scope: Common chronic conditions

While searching for "what are the 14 diseases," a person may be interested in the most common or significant health issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track and report on leading causes of death and disability globally and within the United States. This broader perspective can provide a more helpful overview of significant health concerns than any single, narrow list of 14.

Key health issues that consistently rank among the most impactful include:

Cardiovascular diseases (e.g., heart disease, stroke)
Cancers (various types)
Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma)
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
Infectious diseases (e.g., lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, HIV)
Kidney diseases
Cirrhosis and other liver diseases

The importance of preventive health measures

Regardless of which list of diseases is under consideration, many health outcomes are influenced by lifestyle and preventive care. A strong emphasis on preventative health can lower the risk and manage the impact of many conditions. These measures are often applicable across many different types of diseases, both chronic and acute.

Key preventative measures include:

Regular screenings: Health screenings, such as for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and various cancers, can catch problems early.
Vaccinations: Maintaining up-to-date immunizations helps prevent many infectious diseases, a critical aspect of public health.
Healthy habits: Adopting a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco use can reduce the risk of a wide range of chronic diseases.
Hygiene: Simple practices like frequent and proper handwashing can significantly reduce the spread of infectious illnesses.
Environmental awareness: Protecting oneself from environmental hazards like insect bites and harmful chemicals can prevent certain diseases.
Chronic disease management: For those with existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease, proper management can prevent complications and slow disease progression.

Conclusion

In summary, the phrase "what are the 14 diseases" does not refer to a standardized list of major human ailments. The answer is entirely dependent on the specific context in which it is used, such as a specialized genetic panel or a government's administrative criteria. For individuals interested in a broader understanding of common and impactful health issues, focusing on leading causes of death and disability, as tracked by organizations like the WHO, is more informative. The most powerful takeaway for anyone concerned about health is the importance of preventive measures and comprehensive, proactive health management, regardless of any specific numbered list of conditions.

For a general overview of many global health issues and preventative strategies, you can explore the information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) at https://www.who.int/.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not maintain a public list of "the 14 diseases." They track many prevalent conditions, and in one study, used a score of 14 or more chronic diseases for analysis, but this is not a designated list for public reference.

This depends on the context. In the case of the Labcorp genetic panel, the conditions are genetic. The SSA's list includes chronic immune conditions and infectious ones like HIV. In general, there is no standardized answer, as the term is not used consistently across different health fields.

The number 14 is a coincidence based on the specific criteria of each organization. It could be the number of genes on a test panel, a chapter number in an administrative guide, or a scoring threshold. These different uses are unrelated to each other.

For a comprehensive overview of the most significant health issues, consult resources from the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These organizations provide data on the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, covering both chronic and infectious diseases.

Searching for this phrase is not very useful for gaining general health knowledge, as it refers to specialized, context-specific lists. A more productive approach is to research specific types of diseases (e.g., "common chronic diseases" or "vaccine-preventable diseases") based on your specific health concerns.

Health insurance companies do not use a standard list of "the 14 diseases." They evaluate coverage based on recognized medical conditions, and their policies cover a vast number of illnesses, not a limited set of 14.

Genetic disorders are caused by mutations in DNA and are often inherited. Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that may result from genetic, lifestyle, or environmental factors. A genetic disorder, like cystic fibrosis, can be a chronic disease, but not all chronic diseases are genetic.