Tobacco and poor diet, leading causes of death during 2016
Everyone knows that a bad diet and the tobacco they have a very negative influence on the organism. But, to what extent does not caring for what is put on the table or smoking affect health? Much, to the point of having become two of the causes of mortality more repeated during the past 2016 as they point out from the Institute of Measurements and Health Evaluation of the University of Washington, in Seattle.
The study carried out by this entity, published in the journal The Lancet, explains that heart diseases related to poor diet and abuse of the tobacco, like other problems such as diabetes, have grown in the last year. A challenge that must be faced to ensure a higher quality of life and more years for all individuals.
Non-contagious diseases
The data in this report are clear. During 2016, tobacco caused 7.1 million deaths worldwide, while a bad diet was associated with one out of every 5 deaths. But we must also take into account the diseases derived from a deficient diet or the fact of smoking, affections not contagious and that they manifest as very aggressive.
In fact, non-contagious diseases are the cause of 72% of deaths around the world. First, heart disease, very related to poor diet, like diabetes. This last disease experienced a growth of 31% in the last decade. Some data obtained after analyzing data from 195 countries.
Of course, the data in this report also show a decline in infant mortality. The figures of deaths under 5 years fell from 5 million during the past 2016, some data that contrast with those of the 70s where these figures reached almost 17 million deaths.
The new challenges
This report also highlights that life expectancy in recent years has grown and on average in the world women live 75.3 years and men 69.8 years. But researchers remember that this does not mean there are no pending tasks, in fact those responsible for this work explain that in the future new challenges for the world of health are opened.
"Despite this progress, we are facing a trio of problems that stagnate many countries and communities: obesity, armed conflicts and mental illness, which includes substance use disorders, "explains the doctor Christopher Murray, director of the Institute of Health Measurements and Evaluation. It is worth highlighting the increase in diseases and other mental disorders in recent years.
These data also found that 1.1 billion people suffered from some type of disorders mental health. Among all these types of problems, depression is among the 10 leading causes of ill health in all countries except four. It also reported a growth in the abuse of substances harmful to health such as drugs during 2016.
Damián Montero
