Top 3 Killer Diseases in the Philippines
The majority of Filipinos don’t die because of natural disasters or old age.
According to the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), 60% of Filipinos die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), meaning non-infectious diseases, like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Heart DiseaseHeart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clots.
The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. Behavioural risk factors are responsible for about 80% of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
The effects of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. These “intermediate risks factors” can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of developing a heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.
DiabetesHigh blood sugar levels eventually damage blood vessels, nerves, and organ systems in the body. Among the potential complications of type 1 diabetes are:
Cardiovascular disease (Research shows that people with diabetes are more likely to have high cholesterol and hypertension, both of which cause damage to the cells lining the artery walls.)
Hypoglycemia (Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, is a dangerous condition for people with diabetes. It can be triggered by not eating often enough, eating too little food, too much physical activity without eating, or too much insulin.)
Nephropathy (Diabetic kidney disease, also known as diabetic nephropathy, is a slow deterioration of the kidneys and kidney function which, in severe cases, can eventually result in kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD.)
Neuropathy (Diabetic neuropathy leads to loss of feeling and sometimes pain and weakness in the feet, legs, hands, and arms, and is the most common cause of amputations not caused by accident.
Retinopathy (Diabetic retinopathy is the most common and serious eye-related complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease that destroys small blood vessels in the retina, eventually causing vision problems. In its most advanced form (known as “proliferative retinopathy”) it can cause blindness.)
Cardiovascular disease (Research shows that people with diabetes are more likely to have high cholesterol and hypertension, both of which cause damage to the cells lining the artery walls.)
Hypoglycemia (Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, is a dangerous condition for people with diabetes. It can be triggered by not eating often enough, eating too little food, too much physical activity without eating, or too much insulin.)
Nephropathy (Diabetic kidney disease, also known as diabetic nephropathy, is a slow deterioration of the kidneys and kidney function which, in severe cases, can eventually result in kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD.)
Neuropathy (Diabetic neuropathy leads to loss of feeling and sometimes pain and weakness in the feet, legs, hands, and arms, and is the most common cause of amputations not caused by accident.
Retinopathy (Diabetic retinopathy is the most common and serious eye-related complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease that destroys small blood vessels in the retina, eventually causing vision problems. In its most advanced form (known as “proliferative retinopathy”) it can cause blindness.)
CancerSome types of cancer can spread to take over part of the body that does something essential for life. For example, if a cancer is growing in part of the digestive system, it can block it so that food cannot go through the intestines. If food cannot pass through, then your food can’t be absorbed.
If cancer affects the lungs, then eventually there is not enough healthy lung tissue to allow you to absorb enough oxygen. Or the cancer can block off part of the lung. This part then collapses and often becomes infected. If you have advanced cancer, you may not have the strength to fight off an infection, even with strong antibiotics. So the infection can eventually lead to death.
The human body has very finely balanced limits of certain body salts and chemicals. A cancer that has spread to the liver or bones can upset this chemical balance. The liver is the chemical factory of the body. It carries out many different tasks and is very important in maintaining the balance of body chemicals.
Cancer in the bones can affect the calcium balance of the body. If calcium levels go up or down in the blood, it upsets the whole chemical balance. Cancer in the bones can cause a lot of calcium to be released into the bloodstream. Normally the body has systems to correct this sort of imbalance. But when the imbalance becomes too great the systems don’t work any more. There is treatment to bring calcium levels back to normal, but these only work for a limited time. Then unfortunately the calcium levels will rise in the blood. If calcium continues to go up, it will cause you to become unconscious and eventually die.
Depart of Health (DOH) Records:
Youngest Highblood Patient – 3 years old
Youngest Stroke Patient – 17 years old
Youngest Heart Attack – 9 years old
Average Lifespan (as of 2010) – 65 years old
Are you afraid of acquiring these diseases at early age? You don’t want to die as early as 65 years old with any of this killer diseases, do you???
Due to the unhealthy lifestyle of Filipinos today, from all the harmful foods we eat to lack of sleep, exercise and proper nutrition, we tend to forget the importance of our OWN HEALTH and WELLNESS.
Do not compromise your life with good health, take care of your body NOW.
First Vita Plus aims to BRING US BACK to basic – eating Vegetables.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advise people to eat at least 100 kilograms of Vegetables per year OR 8-9 kilograms per month OR 5-6 servings per day.
Many people do not eat enough vegetables anymore, that’s why these organizations have collaborated in order for us to be informed and take the necessary actions in acquiring the daily nutrients that we need.
KUMAIN NG GULAY PARA HUMABA ANG BUHAY!
Sources:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/
http://jdrf.org/life-with-t1d/type-1-diabetes-information/diabetes-complications/
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/how-can-cancer-kill-you