.png)
Heart disease is the world's biggest killer, but a colour-coded world health map clearly shows the difference between eastern and western lifestyles
Reading health scare stories in the media it's hard to tell what our biggest health issues really are.
In the west we might assume cancer's up there, with obesity and related health conditions hot on its heels. And you'd certainly have thought we'd have very different health concerns to those in the developing countries around the world, thanks to our access to healthcare and abundant food sources.
But it seems we're all united by one common health complaint across the globe - heart disease - the top killer in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australasia. In fact, it's only Africa that isn't blighted by the illness, with the exception of some countries in the north.
Research by the World Health Organisation, cleverly constructed into colour-coded map form by the Global Post, reveals that heart disease is the world's biggest health threat by a long way, with the developing world suffering most from HIV/Aids.
Mexico is the only country where cirrhosis of the liver is the top killer - presumably thanks to all that tequila.
In the developing world, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids are the biggest killers, with small areas of respiratory disease and nephritis/nephrosis (an illness of the kidneys). But as diets have become more extravagant in the west, packed with processed foods loaded with salt, sugar, red meat, dairy and fat, our hearts have taken on the strain.
Surprisingly cancer isn't the top problem in many countries, with the exception of China (liver), France, Spain and Portugal (throat and lung) and a few other small pockets in Europe.
What is reassuring is that many cases of heart disease can be avoided by paying attention to your health.
(Global Post)
(Global Post)
Heart Disease - A Lifestyle Illness?
Heart disease has long been the biggest killer in the UK. It's an umbrella term for a range of illnesses that damage the heart and prevent blood pumping properly.
According to the British Heart Foundation, 'angina, heart attack, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythm, as well as many other conditions including congenital heart disease and inherited heart conditions' make up the term.
It's thought that up to a third of these could be preventable through lifestyle changes.
Smoking, a poor diet and lack of exercise can all contribute to heart disease. You can lower your risk by making sure you exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, high in vegetables and fruits, wholegrains and lean protein such as chicken and fish. And avoid too much dairy, red meat, sugar and salt.
Other tips are keep an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol (by visiting your doctor for regular check ups) and working to reduce both. Stress-reduction techniques are a great idea and exercise can help with this too. Oily fish and good fats (found in nuts, seeds and avocado) are key to get into your diet as they help combat the bad saturated fats found in processed foods and red meat.
The map looks scary, but if we, governments and health care providers made a real effort with preventative measures, we might be able to change the scary pink heart disease sectors to more natural 'old age'. We have the knowledge, it's just making it happen now.
Ref:yahoo
0 comments:
Post a Comment