Chronic Diseases and Healthy Lifestyle

We have in the past talked to you guys about different aspects of lifestyle which affect our health, such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and dietary habits.

Now we would like to draw your attention to a report recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO), which again reminds us the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The report on chronic diseases by the WHO points out that chronic diseases are, as a group, currently the leading cause of death in the world with steadily increasing impact. It projects that approximately 17 million people will die prematurely each year from chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, and global action to prevent chronic disease could save the lives of 36 million people who would otherwise be dead by 2015.

In Hong Kong, chronic diseases remain the major causes of death. Among the top five leading causes of death in 2003, four were chronic diseases, namely cancers, heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and lower respiratory diseases.

Most of the cases of chronic diseases are caused by a small number of known and preventable risk factors and are thus avoidable and preventable. Three of the most important ones are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Globally, these risk factors are increasing as more people switch to foods high in fats and sugars and fast food, especially in developed countries like Hong Kong, and people's work and living situations are less physically active. Tobacco, on the other hand, is by itself the single most important avoidable contributory risk factor to many chronic diseases while about one billion people globally are overweight or obese.

So in order to echo the call by the WHO to "stop the global epidemic of chronic disease", let's all be reminded of some of the important components of a healthy lifestyle:

• Say no to smoking and second hand smoking
• 30 minutes moderate intensity physical activity daily
• A balanced diet, including eating "Two plus Three Every day"
• Watch your weight
• Safer sex
• Drink alcohol sensibly

For more information on healthy lifestyle, please visit the "Men's Lifestyle" section of this website.

Information on healthy lifestyle is also available at the "Healthy Living" section of the website of Central Health Education Unit of the Department of Health.

(Last Updated on 24-10-2005)