Global Health | Addressing the world's health challenges
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Photo Gallery: Deadly and Preventable Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, representing at least 60 percent of all deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Such diseases are among the most common and costly but are also among the most preventable, through good nutrition, regular exercise and abstention from tobacco use.
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, and more than a million women are diagnosed each year... The good news is that this trend can be reversed.
Chronic Diseases
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diabetes
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Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas doesnot produce enough insulin (type 1), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (type 2). Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels. In 2005, 1.1 million people died from diabetes.
According to the World Health Organization, an emerging global diabetes epidemic can be traced to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity. Thirty minutes of moderately intense physical activity on most days and a healthy diet can drastically reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Related article: Effective Medicine Requires Cultural Sensitivity
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heart
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Heart Disease
The human heart is the size of a fist but it is the strongest muscle in the body. It starts to beat long before birth and beats about 100,000 times a day or 2.5 billion times over a 70-year lifetime. This system is vulnerable to breakdown and assault from a variety of factors, many of which can be prevented and treated.
Every year around the world, 17 million people die of cardiovascular – involving the heart and blood vessels – diseases, especially heart attacks and strokes. Many of the deaths arise from tobacco smoking. Physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, high stress levels and drinking too much alcohol can also contribute to heart disease risk. A healthy diet is one of the best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease.
Related article: International Summit Tackles Challenge of Aging Populations
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obesity
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Obesity
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that presents a risk to health. In 2005, about 1.6 billion adults (age 15 and older) were overweight and at least 400 million adults were obese. At least 20 million children under age 5 were overweight globally in 2005.
Excessive weight and obesity are major risk factors for several chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. Once considered problems only in high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. WHO projects that by 2015, 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese.
Related article: Health Initiatives Aim To Determine Roots of Common Diseases
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cancer
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Cancer
Cancer is a generic term for a group of more than 100 diseases that can affect any part of the body. Cancer affects everyone – young and old, rich and poor, men, women and children – and represents a huge burden on patients, families and societies. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, especially in developing countries.
In 2005, 7.6 million people died of cancer. More than 70 percent of the deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent. More than 40 percent of all cancers can be prevented. Others can be detected early, treated and cured. Even with late-stage cancer, the suffering of patients can be relieved with good palliative (symptom-soothing) care.
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diabetes