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According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
"Chronic diseases - such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes - are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S., which is 1.7 million each year. These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost 1 out of 10 Americans or about 25 million people. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable."
It is true that everyone
will die of something. However, most chronic diseases do not result in sudden death. Rather, they are likely to cause people to become progressively
ill and debilitated, especially if their illness is not managed correctly. Death is inevitable, but a life of protracted ill-health is not.
Chronic disease prevention and control helps people to live longer and healthier lives.
The following is a list of common misunderstandings regarding chronic diseases adapted from WHO's report Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment.
- Misconception: Chronic Disease mainly affect high income families
Reality: Four out of five chronic disease deaths are in low and middle incomes.
- Misconception: Chronic Disease mainly affect old people
Reality: Almost half of chronic disease deaths occur prematurely, in people under 70 years
of age. One quarter of all chronic disease deaths occur in people under 60 years of age.
- Misconception: Chronic Disease mainly affect men.
Reality: chronic diseases, including heart disease, affect women and men almost equally.
- Misconception: Chronic diseases can't be prevented
Reality: the major causes of chronic diseases are known, and if these risk factors were eliminated, at least
80% of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented; over 40% of cancer would be prevented.
- Misconception: People who have led unhealthy lives have lived to be over 90.
Reality: In any population, there will be a certain number of people who do not demonstrate the typical patterns
seen in the vast majority. For chronic diseases, there are two major types:
- people with many chronic disease risk factors, who nonetheless live a healthy and long
life;
- people with no or few chronic disease risk factors, who nonetheless develop chronic
disease and/or die from complications at a young age.
These people undeniably exist, but they are rare. The vast majority of chronic disease
can be traced back to the common risk factors, and can be prevented by eliminating
these risks.
Through advertisement and other forms of mass media, we are inundated with information regarding health
and food. It can be a daunting task for anyone to determine which diet to choose that will provide us with nutritional benefit. One type of diet and exercise regimen that may energize you to the core may leave another
person feeling lethargic and weak. Our bodies are unique and continuously evolving on many levels. Our individual health needs are not only based on our lifestyles, genetic disposition, past
and current habits but also our emotional and mental state.
At Namaste Holistics, we don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all solution in the quest for optimal
health. We will help you learn to listen to the most important expert in reaching good health, yourself.
We call our practice integrative nutrition because we believe health is not about choosing "an ideal diet" determined
by an outside expert, but in fact it is about learning to listen to your body and identify your needs. Integrative nutrition is about
making manageable changes in various dimensions of your life. These changes go far beyond the types of foods you eat.
In addition, Namaste Holistics provides opportunities for nutritional clients to join one of our healing groups, which meet regularly.
In these groups, members discuss their success and some of the obstacles they face in becoming healthy.
Click here to complete a short informational survey and one of our holistic consultants will contact you for a free consultation.
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