Non-communicable diseases on the rise

WHO: Noncommunicable diseases world's leading cause of death

15/09/2011

In a recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped up international efforts to prevent the spread of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer; Diabetes or cardiovascular disease required. According to the WHO, nearly two-thirds of people worldwide are now dying from non-communicable diseases - and the numbers are rising.

Noncommunicable diseases are already the number one cause of death worldwide, according to WHO. In 2008, more than 36 million people died of one of these diseases, with 48 percent of deaths from cardiovascular disease, 21 percent from cancer, 12 percent from chronic respiratory diseases (such as smoker's cough) and 3 percent from diabetes The WHO reported. By no means are only older people affected, but also in people under the age of 60 years, there were about nine million corresponding deaths, explain the experts of the World Health Organization in their report published on Wednesday.

However, according to the WHO report, it is not only current numbers that are a cause for concern, but also future developments could pose significant problems. According to the World Health Organization, deaths from non-communicable diseases will increase by around 15 percent between 2010 and 2020. In the first place, the inhabitants in poorer countries are threatened by the often preventable diseases. Around 90 percent of non-communicable disease deaths are in poorer states, according to the WHO. But even in rich countries such as Switzerland, 26.9 percent of men and 15 percent of women die before the age of 70 from a non-communicable disease, the World Health Organization reports.

Avoidable risk factors of non-communicable diseases
The WHO identifies high blood pressure / hypertension (13 percent of deaths), tobacco smoking (nine percent), elevated blood sugar levels (six percent), and lack of exercise (six percent) as major risk factors for non-communicable diseases that should be combated in the future with the help of government measures. , Overweight / obesity (five percent) and alcoholism (3.8 percent). Appropriate action programs, legal and fiscal regulations must address these key risk factors of non-communicable diseases to avoid a dramatic increase in deaths, the WHO report recommended for the meeting of ministers at the UN General Assembly next week in New York. Although initial measures to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the industrialized countries have already shown tangible results, overweight and diabetes, according to the WHO experts, still needs to be done.

Looking at the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, it becomes clear that much can be avoided through a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition, a high level of physical activity, and low alcohol and tobacco. But although health initiatives have been working to convince the population of a healthier lifestyle for years, their successes have remained modest. (Fp)