Noncommunicable Diseases...Out to get you, no matter who you are!

The article Global Noncommunicable Diseases -- Where Worlds Meet discusses the widespread prevalence of noncommunicable diseases around the world regardless of low, middle, or high income country status. It explains how there are common risk factors globally such as high blood pressure, tobacco use, low physical inactivity, obesity, among many others. The article tries to explain the root causes of these problems such as globalization and urbanization, which is happening all around the world. It is more demanding, than proposing, that world organizations and leaders get together to address this issue immediately and claims that it wouldn't be that difficult to do so if everyone cooperates. Lastly, it emphasizes on how important noncommunicable diseases are as compared to the highly recognized and fought communicable diseases and again urges for the world, essentially, to do something about it. 

I am more than surprised that this problem of noncommunicable diseases is affecting everyone alike. I was convinced that this was only a problem Americans faced specifically because of the widespread risk factors that are growing exponentially among its citizens. Other countries, especially low income ones, don't deal with physical inactivity or obesity, because of either poverty or other reasons, but they still get these diseases. This puts me in a state of bewilderment and leads me to believe that these types of diseases go beyond having money or being in a rather well off country. But this may be the case, especially when you look at the chart provided in the article, because of tobacco use which is known to cause some of these diseases as a risk factor, and it is prevalent in each type of country as the number one or number two cause of death (as a risk factor).

Primary prevention is preventing risk factors from taking place. Secondary prevention is the act of treating risk factors. Tertiary prevention is the act of treating the disease. A chronic disease that was not discussed in class is asthma. Though it’s due to genetics, it can still be prevalent due to smoking or obesity, among others. Primary prevention in this case would be teaching the hazardous effects of smoking in primary education, making Physical Education mandatory in schools, and since it’s passed through parents at times, having parents teach their children to be healthy through parent education about what causes asthma. Secondary prevention would include a change in lifestyle- quitting smoking, exercising more, and eating healthier. Tertiary prevention would be to actually treat the asthma with inhalers, humidifiers, and a clean-up of the home of dust and such. From a public health perspective, it would be to provide greater access to this care and easier access.

I do think the effectiveness will differ in developed and under-developed countries because in poorer countries, access to health care is almost impossible and good health care at that. Things in the environment that may be hazardous in a country that is still being developed may be impossible to do on an individual level, and may require government intervention. I feel like these preventions would be a lot easier in a developed country just because health care is usually better, and it’s sometimes easier when wanting to get things done because of abundant resources.

 Until Later,

Thomasina =]