Did you know that an individual’s lifestyle can significantly contribute to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers?
Chronic diseases, characterized by their progressive nature and non-infectious origin, pose a significant health challenge worldwide.
Conditions like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and asthma cannot be prevented or cured solely by medications.
However, they can be effectively managed through simple lifestyle changes.
According to Dr. Grace White, chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have reached pandemic levels, leading to premature death and disability, particularly in the Americas.
While these diseases are often associated with aging, Dr. White highlights the concerning trend of younger individuals being diagnosed with chronic conditions in today’s society.
Dr. White identifies several risk factors associated with chronic NCDs, including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and genetic predispositions.
She emphasizes the importance of education about the disease and the disease process, encouraging individuals to stay engaged with their physicians and participate in clinics rather than relying solely on medication.
By making healthy choices and adopting positive lifestyle habits, the risk of developing chronic diseases can be significantly reduced, leading to an improvement in overall quality of life.