What are risk factors for Noninfectious diseases and how they are affecting poor countries?

Noncommunicable diseases are mostly Non-infectious diseases. They are slowly progressive and affect the body at a slow pace. They are usually called chronic diseases because these diseases are not detected too early. The factors associated with their epidemiology are variable. Some factors can be controlled and others are uncontrollable.

If we look back at history, we come to know that initially, people were more afraid of infectious diseases. Many pandemics have affected mankind, and most of the people suffering from infectious diseases were from low and middle-income societies due to the unavailability of basic life necessities.

Noninfectious diseases were supposed to be associated with rich people. They were known as diseases of riches because they are caused by environmental factors as well as behavioral manifestations. Rich people don’t usually do enough physical activities and it affects them negatively.

The facts and figures have changed now. Noncommunicable diseases are causing 41 million people to die every year. Two third of these figures belong to underdeveloped countries. The ratio of deaths caused by NCDs is not so good. 71 percent of total deaths are due to these NDCs. Moreover, they are a leading cause of untimely deaths with a figure of 15 million.

NCDs are looking for poor countries!

Major groups of NCDs

As discussed in the previous write-up, there are four main groups of NCDs. They are grouped as Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and autoimmune disorder more specifically diabetes mellitus. The percentage of deaths caused by these groups is as follows as a soft reminder:

1. Cardiovascular diseases cause about 18 million causalities annually
2. Different types of cancers cause about 9 million people to die annually
3. Chronic respiratory diseases cause more than 4 million people to die globally every year
4. Diabetes causes more than  1 Million deaths annually

Predisposing factors for acquiring NCDs

Risk factors for chronic diseases are variable. They are usually linked to personal habits, lifestyle, dietary routine, environment, and genetics. People with a wide range of ages, ethnicity, and financial conditions can have these diseases. 

However, the ratio of NCDs is high in people living in poor or underdeveloped countries. In those regions, environmental issues are also involved i.e. pollution and socioeconomic status contribute mainly. Socioeconomic status is more important as such people cannot afford good living standards. They are unable to spend on medical expenditures and diagnostic procedures.

There are two types of risk factors associated with NCDs as follow

1. Modifiable risk Factors
2. Non-modifiable risk Factors

If these factors are explained, they can be subcategorized as follow:

• Environmental factors
• Genetic factors
• Behavioral and self-managerial factors
• Metabolic risk factors
• Societal or socioeconomic factors

Work on these risk factors to make yourself more healthy!

Environmental factors

Environment or ecology is directly linked with external factors that can affect a person’s life positively or negatively. The topic of discussion is NCDs so here environmental changes can be relative. Pollution in air and water both affects directly. Weather changes can also put a lot of stress and many NCDs are weather dependent. Few of them are more prevalent in the summer season.

Most of them are associated with low temperatures. On the similar side, UV radiation is more penetrative in a few regions. People living there are more prone to get skin cancer.

Air pollution has a lot of negative effects on respiratory health. In countries where the air is contaminated with chemicals and smoke, people mostly are patients with respiratory diseases i.e. asthma and COPD.

Genetic factors

Genetic factors play an important role in the study of NCDs. A few families are more sensitive to certain diseases. Vertical transmission of NCDs is an important risk factor. It keeps passing in generations and a specific pedigree becomes positive for these diseases.

For example, some people are prone to cardiovascular diseases and their body metabolism supports heart issues and strokes.

Likewise, breast cancer is reported to be transferred in the next generation. The same is the case with diabetes and other autoimmune disorders.

Diabetes is incurable yet it can be managed with lifestyle and medicine. It is shifted from parent to offspring.

A family history of specific diseases is a red flag for coming generations.

Metabolic risk factors

Metabolic risk factors contribute to the cause of NCDs. There are multiple types of these risk factors, which are as follows:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Fats or lipids
• Obesity
• Side effects of medicine for chronic illnesses

High blood pressure contributes to enhancing the chances of getting cardiovascular diseases. Globally 19 percent of deaths by CVDs are a result of high blood pressure.  CVDs are the main culprit for causing millions of deaths in no time. Our unhealthy fats and high blood pressure make it even worse. 

As per data provided by the American heart association, high blood pressure and unhealthy fats make cardiac muscle effort. The heart needs to work more than normal, which eventually leads to stroke and heart issues. Hyperlipidemia and hypertension both are risk factors for CVDs.

High blood sugar level is directly linked to diabetes. If diabetes and blood glucose levels are not controlled, they can affect the other organs. They even make people to have severe kidney failure, chronic wounds, and vision loss.

Obesity is linked with poor eating habits and abnormal dietary practices. People including children with high BMI are more inclined to be a candidate for NCDs. People with obesity respond less to medication than normal people.

Unfortunately, some people are already being looked after for a chronic illness. The residual effects of those medicines can cause the body to be exposed to other NCDs such as renal and hepatic failure.

If these metabolic risk factors are controlled they can help a person prevent catching up with chronic disorders. These are modifiable risk factors. A person on verge of getting NCDs can prevent himself from being sick and having an unwanted death.

Behavioral and self-managerial factors

These factors belong to modifiable risk factors. These can be managed by the person himself. In this group of risk factors, physical inactivity, insane use of tobacco and alcohol, overconsumption of processed and high-cholesterol foods, avoiding green leafy vegetables, and irregular sleep patterns are included.

If we look at the data provided about tobacco consumption we come to know that it affects approximately 7.2 million people. It includes active and passive smokers. This tobacco smoke can pollute the air. Pollution then causes respiratory diseases in people living in that area.

High salt intake causes over 4 million deaths.

Overconsumption of alcohol affects millions of people either from renal, hepatic, cardiac failure, or cancer.

More than 1.6 million people die because of less physical activity. Their sedentary lifestyle makes them a patient with fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome.

Loss of sleep and irregular sleep patterns cause many people to be sensitive to autoimmune disorders. Their bodies are always positive with inflammation which can ultimately cause unhealthy conditions.

Stress and anxiety can also make our bodies more sensitive.  Chronic diseases become a part of our lives as we don’t take precautionary measures to get over overthinking, stress, and other mental health problems.

An unhealthy diet, irregular sleep patterns, anxiety, overconsumption of alcohol, tobacco, sugar, and salt intake, and overuse of processed foods can be controlled by the person who wants to prolong his life and have a good impact on his health.

Societal and socioeconomic factors

This group of risk factors applies to people living in a certain area. It has many perspectives.

About 85 percent of total Deaths by NCDs are prevalent in low and middle-income countries. People who cannot afford good living standards, cannot focus on having good health. Those working in factories and polluted places are more prone to NCDs. People who cannot afford to get together with financially stable folks become socially lonely and this can lead to physical inactivity.

Another problem is with finance management. If a poor person is diagnosed with an NCD, he would not be able to timely afford the expensive management plans. Most of the time such people don’t have an investment in regular medical checkups and diagnostic procedures. They usually consult a doctor when they are having evident clinical symptoms.

Sometimes the problem comes with the balanced diet and supplements that must be taken along with intensive management protocols. People living in such low-income countries can either afford good food or medication. They cannot go with both simultaneously.

Age is not a considerable factor in getting NCDs. People of any age can be sick. A baby can be affected if the mother is not getting proper diet and care. If she is stressed it would affect the child after birth and that child would have some health issues. If the mother is diabetic there are chances for the baby to be pre-diabetic. However, these uncontrolled deaths are more reported in people 30-63 years.

Ever-increasing urbanization, pollution, and uncontrolled and poor healthcare facilities have made living a bit difficult.

Socially disadvantaged people become unable to be a part of this high pace world and die after having NCDs. They can even pass them on to their offspring. This cycle continues which is making healthcare organizations upset.

Agenda for controlling NCDs

WHO and other relevant public health organizations are aiming to control these NCDs as much as possible. They have set an agenda of reducing the untimely deaths by NCDs to one-third. To achieve this, they are working on each level. No wellness and progress can be achieved without controlling diseases. Providing basic healthcare facilities and quality of life will help achieve ta an increase in a healthy population.

Cooperative working is required on the following levels,

• Personal level ( by encouraging self-care routine and avoiding the use of tobacco and alcohol)
• Societal level (by providing balanced meals and health care facilities and controlling poverty)
• Global level (by awareness programs)

Joins hands with WHO to get rid of NCDs

Take home message 

NCDs are becoming the leading cause of unknown deaths and poor lifestyles. WHO and public health care organizations are all working to reduce the figures to one-third. However, it cannot be achieved without a cooperative attitude of people who are at risk.

Avoiding all the risk factors or at least controlling the modifiable risk factors can help achieve this reduction and let people live long and healthy life. At minimum one can do is have physical activities, cessation of tobacco and alcohol usage, add vegetables and fruits to one’s diet, and cut off processed foods. We already know that NCDs no longer belong to only riches.

Change your fate to make your generation's diseases free!

That's all from our side on the topic of Noninfectious/ non-communicable/ chronic/ NCDs.

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