Why public health organizations think about increasing rate of noninfectious diseases?

In this modern age, where seventy years age is considered a new fifty years.  Health facilities are much anymore and then in old times, and lifestyle has changed a lot. Still, many people keep having untimely deaths. The increasing no. of these untimely and uncertain events has made health organizations worried. 

World health organizations and other healthcare-related institutes are concerned over these scenarios. The increasing ratio of non-communicable diseases is the leading cause of these deaths.

It is so unfortunate that about 41 million people die every year due to non-communicable diseases. This 41 million figure is equivalent to more than seventy percent of total deaths that occurred in a year. Moreover, 15 million people between 30-60 years of age die every year due to Non-infectious diseases.

A study has stated data that shows in 2015 every sixth death was due to cancer. The number of people dying from cardiovascular diseases is disturbing for those who do not take lifestyle modifications seriously.

Now the question arises about the definition of noncommunicable or Non-infectious diseases.

Noninfectious diseases are making the whole world sick!

What is a non-communicable or Non-infectious disease?

There are two types of diseases as follows

1. Infectious diseases
2. Noninfectious diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by infectious agents and microorganisms. These are unsafe for humans and are transmitted to humans via different sources. The sources of transmission of infectious diseases are different. For example, the usage of poorly cooked food, contaminated water, exchange of body fluids, and so on.

Details of infectious diseases can be studied by clicking this link

https://microbiologistsidra.blogspot.com/2022/08/what-are-infectious-diseases-and-how.html

Noninfectious diseases are those illnesses that are not caused by infectious agents or microorganisms. Moreover, these diseases can not be transmitted to other people horizontally. It means if a person is going through an NCD, he would not be a problem for people living around him.

Noncommunicable or Non-infectious diseases are also known as chronic diseases. They show up after a long time of making a person sick.

NCDs are a result of some problems in environmental, physiological, genetic, and nutrition-related factors. They are caused by some imbalance in the factors mentioned earlier.

Studies show that 85 percent of these NCDs are reported in countries. They have low or middle-level economic conditions. People living in underdeveloped countries become patients of these serious diseases due to the unavailability of resources, poor hygienic practices, and improper medical facilities.

Due to these factors, every year approximately 31 million people die these uncertain deaths in poor countries.

Four main groups of noncommunicable diseases contribute to premature deaths. The list is as follows: 

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Cancers
• Respiratory diseases
• Diabetes

Cardiovascular diseases top this list as they are the major reason for death by NCD. Cancers come on the second number.  Respiratory problems have a higher ratio of sickness. Diabetes of two types is making people sick even at a young age.

Cardiovascular diseases

The main problem of cardiovascular diseases is the genetic transmission. Genetic factors and age contribute as a predisposing factor for cardiovascular diseases. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are the leading causes of this group of diseases.

As per studies, about 18 million people die due to cardiovascular diseases every year. Moreover, it is also more frequent in poor and underdeveloped countries.

The most common cardiovascular diseases are listed as follows:

1. Heart attack
2. Stroke
3. Congenital heart diseases
4. Coronary artery disease
5. Cerebrovascular disease

Cancers

The cancer spreads silently and it causes more than 9 million people to die every year. It can affect people from any country, age, or genetic tree. However, certain genetic factors can contribute more. The treatment cost of cancer is the main reason for people dying from it. Poor countries can not afford it and they cannot get rid of this chronic disease. Their living standards become even poorer due to unfortunate medical expenditures.

There are multiple types of cancers in males and females. A few of the most common types are listed as follows

1. Breast cancer ( leading type in females )
2. Prostate cancer ( leading type in males )
3. Colorectal cancer ( affects both equally)
4. Lung cancer ( more frequent in males )
5. Stomach cancer ( affects both equally)
6. Ovarian cancer ( leading type in females)

Cancer is not friendly!

Respiratory tract diseases

Respiratory tract diseases also known as chronic respiratory problems make people sick by affecting the lungs. Respiratory illnesses cause problems in breathing. Eventually, the airways become shorter causing a person to seek medical help. At the advanced stage of these diseases, a ventilator is required to breathe. A ventilator can not support breathing for a long time. 

CRDs are also more frequent in underdeveloped countries where excessive pollution makes the air polluted.

Another main reason is smoking cigarettes. It can include passive smoking and second-hand smoking. A person smoking cigarettes for a long time is unsafe for himself and the people around him.

The most common chronic respiratory diseases are listed as follows:

1. Asthma
2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
3. Cystic fibrosis
4. Pulmonary hypertension

Respiratory tract problems contribute to causing the death of approximately 4.1 million people globally every year.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. The body of a diabetic person produces less insulin than required. Insulin is dedicated to regulating blood glucose. Sometimes the body is unable to make a useful consumption of insulin.

However, diabetes can be due to problems within the immune system.

There are two main types of diabetes as follow:

1. Type 1 diabetes ( Insulin related )
2. Type 2 diabetes ( Autoimmune disorder )

Type 1 diabetes is the stereotypical type and it is due to high levels of glucose in the blood. This can be managed with injectable insulin. Obesity is also a contributing factor to this type.

Type 2 disease is due to abnormalities in the immune system. It is highly serious. However, it can be now managed with proper medication.

Diabetes can be serious if not taken care of properly and no changes are made in lifestyle and diet.  Diabetes is mostly caused by obesity, high sugar intake, and no or fewer physical activities. It can cause vision loss, cardiovascular disease, and failure of the kidneys.

The worldwide deaths annually caused by diabetes are more than 1.5 million globally.

Keep an eye on what makes you sick!

List of more frequent Chronic/noncommunicable disease

The significant diseases that are considered chronic other than the four major groups are listed as follows:

• Liver diseases
• Kidney problems
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Congenital hearing loss
• Bipolar disorder
• Bell’s palsy
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Degenerative arthritis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Bleeding disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Obesity
• Psoriasis
• TMJ disorder
• Ulcerative colitis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Crown’s disease
• Down syndrome
• Sickle cell anemia

Bottom line

As per the details mentioned above, it is clear that chronic noninfectious diseases are making people pass away millions every year. Most of the people having these illnesses and unwanted outcomes belong to countries with weak approaches toward health and wellness.

Late detection of illness and untimely treatment makes the prognosis fail. People are unable to live well even after having a proper regimen.  This leads to further financial instability.

Pollution and unplanned urbanization is also making it worse. Public health care organizations are concerned. They are working harder to decrease the number of deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases.

 

Poverty is the root cause of NCDs