Health Matters

We value health and well being. The following information pages focus on health matters and associated issues to help you keep fit, informed and healthy no matter what your age. Health issues relating to specific groups such as children, adults, seniors plus also general suggestions for healthy living and staying fit and well are included in addition to specific problems and diseases.

Good health is a state of physical and mental well being necessary to live a meaningful, pleasant and productive life. Achieving good health means not only curing ill health but pro-actively promoting a healthy lifestyle, and helping people to make healthy choices in an attempt to prevent disease.

Prevention includes educational efforts to influence lifestyle as well as encourage the uptake of preventative services such as smoking cessation programs and immunisation clinics. For example, if the percentage of smokers who are advised by a healthcare professional to quit were to increase from the current 28 percent to 90 percent, an estimated 42,000 lives would be saved each year. If the percentage of adults receiving influenza vaccinations annually rose from 37 percent to 90 percent an additional 12,000 lives could be saved each year.

Health education involves raising public awareness of how lifestyle changes can influence health and positive well being. 

The Government has stated that there is a need for a change in emphasis from treating ill-health to promoting good health. In a recent UK Department of Health consultation on health, The British Medical Association highlighted its focus on preventative health and suggested the following recommendations.

Regular physical activity

Exercise and physical activity needs to be encouraged in schools at an early age. It has been found that as little as half an hour exercise, three times per week is vital in helping to reduce of the risk of:

• Heart disease.
• Obesity.
• High blood pressure.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Osteoporosis (thinning bones).
• Mental health problems such as depression.

Physical activity improves health and well-being. It reduces stress, strengthens the heart and lungs, increases energy levels, helps you maintain and achieve a healthy body and it improves quality of life.

Nutrition

Being overweight increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure therefore the government needs to work with the food industry to ensure effective labelling of food products and it is particularly important that education on the nutritional value of food is at the forefront of school agendas. Starting early will help individuals to make informed decisions on the types of produce they consume and healthy methods of food preparation.

Smoking

Smoking is responsible for one in every three cancers, 90% of all lung cancers and kills well over ½ million people in the E.U. every year. The potential benefits of prevention in respect to the amount of lives saved and diseases avoided would be very high indeed. The government’s policy to ban smoking in public places is one step closer to protecting those who choose not to smoke from a cocktail of deadly chemicals.

Regular Health check ups

The following statistics highlight the importance of health screening;

If the percentage of adults taking aspirin daily to stave off heart disease were to increase to 90 percent, roughly 45,000 lives would be saved annually. At present, fewer than 50 percent of eligible adults take regular aspirin.

If the percentage of adults age 50 and older who are up to date with recommended colorectal cancer screening were to increase from the current 50 percent to 90 percent, roughly 14,000 lives would be saved each year.

An increase in the percentage of women screened for breast cancer in the preceding 2 years from 67 percent to 90 percent would save 4000 extra lives each year.

In addition, an American study reported that 30,000 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease could be avoided each year if the percentage of sexually active young women who are screened for chlamydia infection rose from 40 percent to 90 percent.

Sexual Health

The U.K. not only has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe but The Health Protection Agency found that the incidences of sexually transmitted diseases have increased by 20% since 1999. More informative education should be provided on safe practice especially as well as introducing routine sexual health screening and family planning programs.

Alcohol and drugs

Alcohol and drug abuse needs to also be emphasised at an early age as they can cause serious medical and personal problems. Alcohol and drug abuse can lead to accidents, depression, and problems with friends, family, and work.