Infectious diseases like tuberculosis and polio were once rampant, and although infectious diseases are still a major problem in some areas of the world, chronic diseases are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide, according to the U.S. Department of State.

In the U.S. alone, seven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were potentially preventable chronic diseases, with heart disease and cancer making up nearly 48% of all deaths. These diseases aren’t cheap to diagnose and treat. In fact, the total estimated cost of heart disease and stroke was about $315.4 billion in 2010 and the estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes was about $245 billion in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If these billions of dollars are hard to fathom, which they probably are, a more personal breakdown is that just a 1% reduction of risk factors like cholesterol and weight would save individuals $83 to $103 annually.

“It’s so easy to cite statistics without really grasping the magnitude of the crisis,” says Sean Duffy, co-founder and CEO of preventive care startup Omada Health. “But it is totally insane.”

Not to mention the added costs to employers due to factors like decreased productivity and increased workers’ compensation claims, which can be double or triple the costs of medical expenses.

So, chronic diseases are clearly not only a health but also an economic problem. But, again, these diseases are among the most preventable, and many startups have taken note. From early diagnosis to genetic testing to posture correction, a range of solutions is being pursued by these companies.

Here are seven such startups hoping to make a positive impact:

1. Counsyl

The genetic testing services provided by Counsyl help people make knowledgeable decisions about their lives. They offers three tests: Family Prep Screen, Informed Pregnancy Screen and Inherited Cancer Screen.

“We said, ‘We’re gonna make the genome practical and useful for decisions, finally, after so long,'” says Ramji Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Counsyl.

The Family Prep Screen and Informed Pregnancy Screen provide future parents with information about the genes that they will potentially pass on to children; the Family Prep Screen does so before conception whereas the Informed Pregnancy Screen test does so after. Genetic counselors are then available to help the clients interpret their results and evaluate possible next steps.

The Inherited Cancer Screen lets adults know whether they have a high risk of developing breast, prostate, ovary or pancreas cancer. With this knowledge, adults can either get screened earlier and more frequently, or, in extreme cases, undergo preventive surgery. Angelina Jolie made headlines in 2013 when she learned she had a mutation in her BRCA1 gene and therefore decided to undergo surgery to prevent breast cancer. Although this solution won’t be appropriate for everyone, knowing an individual’s genetic makeup can only help him or her make informed, personalized decisions.

2. Huneo

Excuse the cliché, but regarding health data, knowledge is truly power. Huneo has capitalized on this notion by developing its HuNet infrastructure that stores time series health information that is then available to any HuNet authorized user. Time series data is made up of measurements conducted over a certain period of time, an example being patients’ vital signs. This information is usually not stored and consequently lost forever — a problem that Huneo hopes to address with HuNet.

By bringing big data to healthcare, doctors will be able to gain a deeper understanding of overarching health trends and administer better preventive care.

3. Neurotrack

Alzheimer’s disease is the only one of the top 10 causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, but early diagnosis of the disease could help facilitate drug testing and development.

Neurotrack has developed a noninvasive, computer-based test that has the potential to diagnose Alzheimer’s patients three to six years before they show symptoms, thereby allowing pharmaceutical companies to better recruit patients for clinical trials. The company claims its technology will eventually be used as a screening test to help slow and possibly prevent the disease’s progression.

4. Omada Health

Omada developed its 16-week online Prevent program as a comprehensive lifestyle intervention for people who have a high risk of chronic disease. The scientifically based program is developed to encourage participants to adopt healthier behaviors in multiple aspects of their lives. To do this, the program includes online lessons about topics like nutrition and fitness, as well as a digital scale that tracks results. Health coaches and supportive peers are also there to help push participants through trying moments.

“It’s unbelievably hard to get behavior change and weight loss outcomes,” Duffy says. “It’s a very hard thing to do, and you need all the winds blowing in the sails.”

The program boasts a retention rate that is often over 75% — a number that Duffy says is well above most face-to-face programs.

5. HealthTap

Anyone who has ever read WebMD is likely well aware that the Internet is not always the best place for health advice. HealthTap, however, is striving to legitimize this online space.

With the Virtual Consult service, HealthTap allows patients to connect with its digital community of doctors to get credible answers for any of their health questions and even checklists of healthy habits to maintain. Other helpful services offered by the company include its Concierge program, which helps patients connect with their existing doctors from anywhere in the world via video, phone calls or text messages, and the RateRx program, for which doctors have rated and reviewed certain medications.

6. SkinVision

As far as cancers go, melanoma is relatively simple to cure if detected in its early stages. With SkinVision’s melanoma app, users can take photos of their moles that the app will analyze for abnormal growth and save and organize so users can track their moles over time for dangerous, potentially cancerous changes. If users want a second, professional opinion about a mole, they can also share the photographs with their dermatologist.

7. Lumo

Wearable technology is having a moment. Companies like Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit and even Apple are producing their own versions of activity trackers. Lumo goes one step beyond this, though, and not only tracks activity but also corrects people’s posture and alleviates back pain with its most recent product, the Lumo Lift.

Lumo’s first product was the Lumo Back, inspired by the chronic back pain one of Lumo’s founders used to suffer. The Lumo Back is worn around users’ lower backs, and works to reduce back pain by improving back posture. Following its positive reception, the company decided to create another product to reach an even bigger market.

“Lumo Lift is a lot easier to use, and it’s got sort of a more broad appeal,” says Tansy Brook, Lumo company spokesperson.

The Lumo Lift is a small sensor that magnetically clips on clothing to assist users with their posture. Users calibrate the device to their best posture, based on guidelines provided by Lumo, and the device will vibrate when the wearer deviates from this ideal position.

Improved posture obviously relays a more confident stance, but it also decreases stress and depression while improving circulation and the ability to focus, Brook says.

“We have a lot of people who have purchased it and said ‘I was really interested in having more of an own-the-room presence, but found that my back pain has gone away as well,'” Brook says.

Have anything to add to this story? Tell us in the comments.