“Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year,
equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally”
World Health Organization (WHO)
What are NCDs?
Non communicable diseases, also referred to chronic diseases, are mainly considered of a long term nature. (WHO, 2018)
By taking the WHO’s definition of NCDs, they consider the main types to be cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks or strokes.
Furthermore, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes are also considered. (Healthline, 2018)
NCDs are genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors joined together. (WHO, 2018)
Controlling all these factors may feel unrealistic, as there are various that do seem out of control.
However, let’s mitigate their negative impact and focus on what we can control. Our lifestyle.
According to the WHO, 15 million people die from a NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years in just one year. (WHO, 2018)
By making sure that healthy lifestyle choices and habits are made regularly, one may decrease the chances of chronic diseases down the line.
According to the WHO, cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, with 17.9 million people dying annually.
That data is followed by cancers (9.0 million), respiratory diseases (3.9 million), and diabetes (1.6 million), which account for more than 80% of all premature NCD deaths. (WHO, 2018)
Tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy eating, all increase the risk of dying from a NCD. (WHO, 2018)
There is need of a response.
A NCD is not infectious, meaning that it cannot spread from one individual to the next. (WHO, 2018)
NCDs are often associated with older people. However, 15 million annual deaths from NCD occur among people aged 30 to 69. (WHO, 2018)
There is a grave need of increasing awareness on this topic.
There is a need of decreasing the risk factors stated above and, in order to do that, one needs to change their lifestyle.
How to better one’s lifestyle
It is clear that, in order to try and prevent chronic diseases, one must be aware and intentional with their lifestyle now. Not tomorrow or next week. Now. Here is where lifestyle medicine comes in. One can better and follow the 6 pillars Orbis Lifestyle provides, following the guidelines from the Lifestyle Medicine guidelines, provided by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). Firstly, one must shift their diet towards a healthy whole rounded one.
Providing the right nutrients, a person can aim have a healthy digestive system, increase their immune system and, lastly, remain in the healthy weight range.
Furthermore, you should regularly exercise, get enough sleep and make sure that relationships with ones close to you are healthy and not reason for toxicity.
At Orbis Lifestyle, there are 2 more additions to the equation, in order to make the individual’s lifestyle healthy: Anti-Aging and Environment.
In order to life a healthy whole rounded life, one should consider the impact that environmental factors have on our bodies, such as pollutants and toxins present in the air.
By increasing awareness on what factors age prematurely our bodies and making sure to attempt reducing negative environmental impacts, one can aim towards a healthier ways of life.
A walk in the fresh air can benefit mind, body and spirit.
Spending time with nature and using nature’s products to reduce aging of our cells, so that one can truly aim towards bettering their lifestyle.
It is time to be aware of the choices we take every day, being more mindful in all pillars that make up our lifestyle.
This way, in addition to initiatives done by organizations as the WHO, we can hopefully see the number of NCD deaths decreasing. (Global Hearts Initiative, 2016)
Let’s live life at 360°!
