The health that worries the world: what are the 5 most serious diseases and how to prevent them

Non-communicable diseases are a major challenge to global health, as they together cause 41 million deaths each year, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO). This means that they are responsible for 70% of deaths in the world. Many of these conditions can be prevented and prevented, with lifestyle changes and medical checks.

Within this group, cardiovascular diseases cause the majority of fatal conditions (17.9 million each year, including strokes), followed by cancer (9 million) and chronic respiratory diseases (3.9 million). Along with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, they are the most deadly non-communicable diseases.

On World Health Day, specialists in these diseases explain the most common risk factors, the symptoms to be taken into account, the keys to prevention and the latest advances in treatments:

1 - Cardiovascular Diseases

In this group of conditions, ischemic heart disease causes the highest mortality. It occurs when any of the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle are blocked by plaques that slow the passage of blood. When these plaques totally block the flow of blood, acute myocardial infarction occurs.

In Argentina, many patients are unaware of their risk factors, and that is why they do not take action to reduce the chances of suffering a heart attack. “Risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking or sedentary lifestyle, increase the chances of having a cardiovascular event. Adopting healthy habits such as exercising, not smoking, eating based on fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, chicken, little red meat (once or twice a month) and drinking little (a glass of wine a day) or no alcohol, avoiding flour and refined sugars dramatically reduces the likelihood of having an acute myocardial infarction,” explained the Dr. Alberto Alves de Lima, medical director of the ICBA-Cardiovascular Institute.

Coronary tomography is one of the technological advances in the fight against the disease: “It is a non-invasive method for evaluating the coronary arteries, and in certain patients it allows the coronary anatomy to be evaluated very accurately without the need for invasive cardiac catheterization,” said Dr. Alves de Lima.”

2 - Cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lung

Eighty percent of lung cancer cases are associated with smoking. “No smoking is the simplest way to reduce the incidence” of these types of tumors, said Dr. Claudio Martin, head of Thoracic Oncology at the Alexander Fleming Institute. Other cases are associated with household radon (an inert radioactive gas that is released from the earth's crust and can accumulate in homes) and the effects of environmental pollution.

Symptoms of lung cancer usually appear when the disease is already in an advanced stage. The only proven measure of early detection is the use of low-dose radiation chest tomography,” added the specialist. When this diagnosis is achieved early through tomography, there are possibilities to perform surgical intervention and reduce mortality.

In recent years, there have been “revolutionary advances in the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which imply a paradigm shift in the strategies we use to destroy tumor cells,” Dr. Martin said.

Immunotherapy cancels the mechanisms with which tumor cells evade the body's defenses. “Lung tumors that have developed metastases (involvement of other organs) immunotherapy has shown that, in patients who have already received chemotherapy and whose tumors have grown, immunotherapy is better than traditional chemotherapy, as it manages to control tumors longer, and consequently, than patients live longer, with better quality of life and less toxicity”.

Thanks to targeted therapies, in many cases today it is possible to detect which mutation is the one that causes the growth of the tumor. Thus, it is “much more frequently than with chemotherapy that tumors shrink, with the addition that these treatments are by mouth and with less toxicities compared to chemotherapy”.

“Quitting smoking, establishing imaging studies for early detection, and access to new therapies are key to reducing the onset of lung cancer, detecting it early and treating it appropriately,” concluded the specialist from Instituto Fleming.

3 - Accidente Cerebrovascular (ACV)

90% of strokes (strokes) are associated with preventable risk factors. Among them are hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and atrial fibrillation.

To lead a healthier lifestyle, it is essential to modify certain eating habits: reduce the intake of ultra-processed foods and red meat, increase the consumption of fish, fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is necessary to stop smoking and consume alcohol in a moderate way.

“Performing 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 times a week and with regular medical checks greatly reduces the risk of having a stroke,” explains neurologist Ramón Leiguarda, director of the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Sanatorium of Los Arcos.

In the event of an acute stroke, it is essential to act quickly since treatments can be performed up to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. And the sooner you start them, the better the result. In order to act on time, it is necessary to know the symptoms of stroke:

- Weakness or lack of sensitivity of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side

- Speech disturbances, either because of not understanding, not being able to express oneself correctly

- Visual disturbances: one eye or both

- Balance and coordination disturbances

- Very intense and sudden headache

4 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

It is characterized by a chronic and persistent limitation to airflow caused mainly by exposure to tobacco smoke, wood smoke, dusts and occupational gases. It is a highly prevalent, preventable and treatable disease. Quitting smoking is the initial measure to combat it. In Argentina, an estimated 2.3 million people suffer from the disease.

“Early recognition of COPD is important to modify exposure to risk factors. For the diagnosis, it is essential to perform a spirometry to confirm the presence of airflow obstruction,” said Pablo Simkin, pulmonologist and bronchoscopist at the Sanatorium of Los Arcos and Olivos Clinic.

“The suspicion of COPD is established by the presence of risk factors accompanied or not by respiratory symptoms. Any adult 40 years of age or older with a history of exposure to these factors, with or without respiratory symptoms, should consider the diagnosis of COPD and perform confirmatory spirometry. There is a significant underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis due to the underuse of spirometry,” the pulmonologist expanded.

In terms of treatment, it includes preventive measures (education, smoking cessation, physical activity, nutrition) and may or may not include the use of drugs. Non-pharmacological measures mainly include respiratory rehabilitation and, in severe cases that require it, the use of oxygen. The goal is to reduce symptoms, frequency and severity of exacerbations, improve quality of life, lung function and exercise tolerance.

5 - Alzheimer's and other dementias

“40% of cases of dementia can be prevented,” said neurologist Leiguarda and listed the risk factors:

- Smoking

- Arterial hypertension

- Obesity and diabetes

- Sedentarism

- Alcohol intake

- Social isolation and/or depression

- Hearing loss

- Head trauma (blows to the head)

- Environmental pollution

Many of these factors are related to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular risk, so it is important to maintain regular clinical controls that allow them to be detected early in order to implement effective treatments and keep them under control.

“In the prevention of dementia, a healthy lifestyle is essential: maintaining an adequate weight, a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding toxic habits (tobacco, alcohol) and staying active both physically and intellectually and socially. Both mood and a good quality of sleep are also important and should not be neglected,” said the specialist.

“The treatment of the disease consists not only of medications, but also of cognitive stimulation strategies and guidelines to guide both the patient and their caregivers or those around them,” added Leiguarda.

Neurological checkups are recommended in the event of symptoms, whether perceived by the patient himself or by those around him: forgetfulness, difficulties in finding words, episodes of disorientation, behavioral changes and failure to solve problems.

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