Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are responsible for 74% of deaths globally, and cracking down on risk factors could save millions of lives, the World Health Organization said.
A report from the UN health agency shows that so-called NCDs, which are often preventable and caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or living conditions, kill 41 million people every year, including 17 million under the age of 70.
NCDs are diseases that do not have a single cause, have long-term health consequences, and frequently necessitate long-term treatment and care. These conditions include cancer, Epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, Osteoarthritis, diabetes, and many more.
Many of these diseases are curable or preventable by reducing common risk factors such as harmful alcohol consumption, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and eating unhealthy diets. Many other serious conditions, such as injuries and mental illnesses, are also classified as NCDs.
Non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and cancer are among the world’s top silent killers, but they can often be avoided by investing in proven, cost-effective interventions. According to the WHO report, the causes of rising NCDs are social, environmental, commercial, and genetic.
Contrary to popular belief, these “lifestyle” diseases are not mainly a problem of wealthy countries. A full 86% of the global premature NCD deaths happen in low-income countries.
