Lifestyle diseases: A review

Abstract

As the developed world contends with high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), developing countries and countries undergoing socioeconomic transition are experiencing a constellation of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
'Lifestyle diseases' or 'diseases of civilization' arising from decline in exercise and activity of daily living caused by availability of technology, safety fears and changes to our living environment and preference for westernized foods are a major contributor to the global upsurge in non-communicable diseases.
It is estimated that of the projected 64 million deaths worldwide in 2015, 41 million (64%) will result from chronic or non-communicable diseases.
While the world must continue to fight infectious or communicable diseases, it will be disastrous to ignore the NCDs.The reason is that NCDs are implicated in the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, type-2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and certain neoplasms. These conditions not only lead to reduced quality of life given their protracted nature but also to premature death. In view of the above attention to lifestyle choices is imperative.