The Nature and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases - Case Study Example

Running head: The Nature and Control of Non Communicable Diseases Name Course Tutor Date Introduction According to the Australian Health report of 2012, many citizens deem their lifestyles healthy based on facts such as smoking, immunizations among other indicators. This may be true given the life expectancy in the country relative to other OECD countries. Yet, the worrying trend is the increasing proportion of deaths caused by NCDs worldwide -60% in 2012. Whereas medical care has bettered over the last century, these statistics act as a pointer to underlying factors that contribute to the increase of NCDs (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013). This paper seeks to explore cancer in particular to get an understanding of the impact and possible mitigation strategies against NCDs. The Biology of Cancer ‘Cancer’ is generally used to refer to the anomalous division of cells in the body resulting from mutations which alter their standard performance. Ideally, cells are meant to undergo a specific lifecycle from their formation till death. Cancerous cells do not follow this pattern due to mutations that cause them to continue multiplying instead of death (Pories & Moses, 2009). Mutations are catalyzed mainly by carcinogenic substances and therefore, the focus of control and prevention of cancer centres on avoiding such substances. The most common types of cancer are lung, breast, liver and prostate cancer. Mutations are biologically inheritable and therefore one may be at a risk of contracting cancer as a result of his lineage. Though such cases are not common, there still comprise 5% of reported cases. It would be therefore prudent to keep records of patients so that the medical history of families can be used to highlight persons at a higher risk of the disease (Pories & Moses, 2009). The physiological reserve function refers to the amount of work a body organ can still carry out. The physiological reserve keeps on decreasing with age and eventually when the reserve is gone, death follows. An ageing population will be affected by this phenomena and this could explain the global increase in the burden of NCDs (Cancer Council Victoria, n.d.). Alcohol and tobacco also contribute to the depletion of the reserve of body functions especially the liver and lungs respectively. The users of such substances are therefore at a greater risk of getting cancer. Epidemiology of the disease In Australia reported cases of cancer more than doubled between 1982 and 2009. There are more cases of men reported than women but in both genders, people above the age of 60 accounts for a huge chunk of the cases reported. In men, in 2009, 73% of reported cases were of persons over 60 whereas the same statistic stood at 63% for women (Pories & Moses, 2009). The proportion of deaths per 100,000 patients suffering from the disease fell from 209 to slightly below 175 in the same period. A survey carried out concerning the health literacy of Australians in 2006 established that 41 % of Australians had at least adequate levels of health literacy (AIHW, 2013). The survey also indicated that persons living in outside major cities exhibited lower levels of health literacy. Older persons showed lower levels of health literacy and were found not to have visited a doctor in the recent past. The report indicated that these persons were more prone to chronic illnesses (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2013). The implication of this statistic is on the direction which efforts to fight the disease and other NCDs should be directed. The old generation should particularly be targeted for more regular scans for cancer as well as health education. The increase in reported cases of the disease is also something to grapple with the significant changes in lifestyles a possible cause. Disparities are also present between rural areas and urban ones with reported case in rural areas higher. Environmental Conditions The environment contains many carcinogenic elements that increase the hazard of cancer. Tobacco is the greatest of them but combined with the other pose a great risk to all humans thus need for control measures to be taken. The location of industries needs to be controlled through moral persuasion as well as tax incentives for companies. Consistently, tobacco manufacturers have refuted claims about the adverse effects of their products on users and passive inhalers. The challenge of controlling these manufacturers emerges since they are large multinationals which sometime wield great influence on the markets and countries where they operate (AIHW, 2013). Because of various interests, and their contribution to revenue through taxation, it has become increasingly to legislate. Globalisation too has played a part as larger industries continue to be built across the world. Environmental toxins are also a major cause of the disease. Health departments worldwide therefore to need to rally more strongly to control these big firms lest the trend go out of hand (Abdallah et al., 2007). Work practices today have changed considerably compared to the last century. People who work two jobs or long shifts may be forced to eat at fast food restaurants which often serve meals high in cholesterol. The sort of marketing in media today also has a great impact on the direction eating habits follow. For instance, today, sugary foods are generally considered better than other foods. In the fight against NCDs there is the need to push people towards ‘healthy foods’ instead of convenient and sweet ones. Response to Cancer; Personal and Societal Approach Self-care for cancer patients involves the individual acquiring useful information that will enable them to live more consciously. Through joining groups of cancer patients and survivors, one is able to take care of their shared psychological needs (Lorig et al., 2000). The cancer council of Victoria recommends frequent vigorous half hour workouts as a means of hedging against the risk of cancer. Many substances that people take in the body contain toxins which increase the risk of cancer- carcinogens. These need to be released from the body quickly and exercise accelerates their excretion (Lorig et al, 2000). In addition, exercise lowers the body oestrogen levels which are linked with breast cancer in women. This hormone is released in fat cells, like breasts, and as such obese women are at a higher risk of breast cancer. There is evidence to back this up since breast cancer is more common in women who are past menopause suggesting that oestrogen is not produced by ovaries. Oestrogen basically triggers the growth of cancerous cells in the breasts and that is why breast cancers are referred to as oestrogen receptor positive (Cancer council for Victoria, 2013). Reducing or quitting smoking is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of cancers of the mouth, larynx and lungs. Doctors recommend fresh fruits and vegetables both which are low in carcinogens. The production of FANCD2, a protein responsible for the proper functioning of the DNA is interfered with by smoking. Continued smoking therefore may cause the mutation of DNA (Pories & Moses, 2009). Interventions The many interventions available in the fight against cancer are influenced by a number of economic as well as social factors. First of all, the economic background of the target group determines the level of access to information and also the resources at the disposal of the patients. More cases of cancer are reported in areas with lower incomes than higher ones. The same is true for areas that are considered remote with the figure of cancer patients being 504 per 100,000 against the average of the whole country at 485 per 100,000 (AIHW, 2013). This can be attributed to disparities in access to useful health information. The frequency of checkups is also expected to be lower in remote areas relative to major cities. The challenge is equally big in developing countries where information on NCDs is not readily available and the cost of treatment unaffordable. In efforts to control, it would be useful to address these disparities by establishing programmes that reach out to all areas and socio-economic stratifications (AIHW, 2013). Legislation has been put in place mainly to guard against carelessness by industrial companies that remit wastes viewed to be dangerous to the health of communities around them. The loose ends that are present today which sometimes allow employers to escape liability for harm suffered by employees in the line of duty need to be relooked. In addition, given the heavy financial burden cancer puts on patients, it would be timely for governments to provide subsidized if not a free cancer treatment for its citizenry. This will go a long way to reduce the mortality rate as well as reduce the mystery around the disease. Conclusion The increase in NCDs worldwide is a challenge to stakeholders to take requisite actions to bring down the statistics. In the case of cancer, stiffer legislation, more health awareness programmes and personal restraint are some of the measures available for control. However, governments need to focus more funds on prevention measures rather than treatment. Where possible, it can also undertake to foot the treatment for patients. NCDs are a reflection of changing societal habits and only more education will change peoples’ attitudes and habits. So far, technological improvements have helped people access valuable information but those without access are living dangerously. REFERENCES Abdallah S. et al. (2007). Grand challenges in chronic non-communicable disease. Nature, 450, 494-496. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). (2012). Australia’s health 2012: Australia’s health series no.13. Cat. no. AUS 156.Canberra: AIHW. Cancer Council Victoria. (n.d.). Cancer Council Victoria: Exercise to Prevent Cancer. Retrieved April 26, 2013, retrieved from http://www.cancervic.org.au/preventing- cancer/be-physically-active Lorig, K., Sobel, D. And Gonzalez V.M. (2000). Living a healthy life with chronic conditions, 2nd ed. Boulder: Bull Publishing Co. Loue, S. & Sajatovic, M. (2008). Encyclopedia of aging and public health. London: Springer. Pories, S., Moses, M. & Lotz, M. (2009). Cancer. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood Press. Read More