Nearly two-thirds of deaths in the world are caused by noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart and lung disease which are rapidly increasing at a cost to the global economy of trillions of dollars, according to U.N. estimates and preliminary results of a new study.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report circulated Monday that while the international community has focused on communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the four main noncommunicable diseases "have emerged relatively unnoticed in the developing world and are now becoming a global epidemic."
According to the report, 36 million people died from noncommunicable diseases in 2008, representing 63 percent of the 57 million global deaths that year. Nearly 80 percent of deaths from these diseases were in the developing world, and 9 million deaths were of men and women under the age of 60, it said.
In 2030, the report said, these diseases are projected to claim the lives of 52 million people.
Ban said the rapidly increasing magnitude of noncommunicable diseases is fueled by rising risk factors including tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, obesity and harmful alcohol use — and is driven in part by an aging population, the negative impact of urbanization, and the globalization of trade and marketing.
Born, like other comic book characters, out of an otherwise trivial but life-changing animal bite, the Rabid Librarian seeks out strange, useless facts, raves about real and perceived injustices, and seeks to meet her greatest challenge of all--her own life.
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Showing posts with label Diseases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diseases. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
I guess when you conquer parasites and germs, these get you in the end
UN: Deaths up from cancer, diabetes, heart disease
Friday, September 12, 2008
An interesting claim that made the news a few days ago
Roman Empire 'raised HIV threat'
French scientists argue that people who lack a particular gene (CCR5-Delta32) seem to be more vulnerable to HIV, and that this is found particularly among those areas that were part of the Roman Empire. It's not because of interbreeding, but rather the result of a disease spread to the areas affected by the Romans. Others argue that other diseases were responsible for the vulnerability, such as bubonic plague.
French scientists argue that people who lack a particular gene (CCR5-Delta32) seem to be more vulnerable to HIV, and that this is found particularly among those areas that were part of the Roman Empire. It's not because of interbreeding, but rather the result of a disease spread to the areas affected by the Romans. Others argue that other diseases were responsible for the vulnerability, such as bubonic plague.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Skeletons, indeed
A Nazi Past Casts a Pall on Name of a Disease
As someone who has to look up syndromes and disorders fairly often for patrons, I dislike the confusion that happens when names of discovering doctors are given to the disease--or possibly more than one disease, names that vary from country to country and change over time. It's not really precise or scientific, after all.
But what do you do when you discover the disease is the namesake of someone with a previously unknown sordid past? Medicine has grappled with the legacy of Nazism for decades now--whether to accept research that may have merit even though it was done in the most appalling matter, whether to accept publications such as anatomy atlases created through 'Nazi medicine', etc. This article looks at the issue of disease names and a Nazi past and what happens when they meet.
As someone who has to look up syndromes and disorders fairly often for patrons, I dislike the confusion that happens when names of discovering doctors are given to the disease--or possibly more than one disease, names that vary from country to country and change over time. It's not really precise or scientific, after all.
But what do you do when you discover the disease is the namesake of someone with a previously unknown sordid past? Medicine has grappled with the legacy of Nazism for decades now--whether to accept research that may have merit even though it was done in the most appalling matter, whether to accept publications such as anatomy atlases created through 'Nazi medicine', etc. This article looks at the issue of disease names and a Nazi past and what happens when they meet.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Troubling
New Bacteria Strain Is Striking Gay Men
It's a new strain of the drug-resistant bacteria, also known as 'flesh-eating' bacteria. It is resistant to three different antibiotics. Authorities recommend washing carefully after sex to help prevent its spread.
It's a new strain of the drug-resistant bacteria, also known as 'flesh-eating' bacteria. It is resistant to three different antibiotics. Authorities recommend washing carefully after sex to help prevent its spread.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Know a hypochondriac?
Forward this to him or her. Ta-da, it's the
Disease Mongering Engine
Amaze your friends by generating symptoms to fictious diseases. Here was mine:
Reactive Depressive Social Syndrome With Speaking In Tongues (RDSSWSIT)
RDSSWSIT is defined as explosive, emotional behavior and responses compromised by a pessimistic mood and emotional outlook in social situations, complicated by an uncontrollable urge to rapidly speak at loud volumes in unknown languages.
Source: Page 99 of the DSM-IV-FE*
*Fictious Edition
Granted, the creator of this engine is a holistic nutritionist, Mike Adams, who seems very anti-pschiatry, anti-pharmaceutical, and anti-allopathic medicine, preferring natural/holistic treatments. In other words, most people would consider him a looney, although he's a fairly interesting looney. I tend to prefer a mix of allopathic and holistic medicine, myself. (As in if I were diagnosed with cancer, I would try nutritional support and regular treatments). Anyway, enjoy the generator.
Disease Mongering Engine
Amaze your friends by generating symptoms to fictious diseases. Here was mine:
Reactive Depressive Social Syndrome With Speaking In Tongues (RDSSWSIT)
RDSSWSIT is defined as explosive, emotional behavior and responses compromised by a pessimistic mood and emotional outlook in social situations, complicated by an uncontrollable urge to rapidly speak at loud volumes in unknown languages.
Source: Page 99 of the DSM-IV-FE*
*Fictious Edition
Granted, the creator of this engine is a holistic nutritionist, Mike Adams, who seems very anti-pschiatry, anti-pharmaceutical, and anti-allopathic medicine, preferring natural/holistic treatments. In other words, most people would consider him a looney, although he's a fairly interesting looney. I tend to prefer a mix of allopathic and holistic medicine, myself. (As in if I were diagnosed with cancer, I would try nutritional support and regular treatments). Anyway, enjoy the generator.
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