Diseases caused by genetic and lifestyle factors on the rise

Tue, 03 May 2011
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer are the leading causes of death globally, new research shows.

Furthermore, deaths from these diseases are on the rise, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).

NCDs are non-infectious and are caused by genetic or lifestyle factors such as smoking .

As well as cancer, these diseases include heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, and diabetes .

According to the WHO, NCDs caused 63 per cent of deaths worldwide in 2008, equating to 36 million people.

The organisation says that, without action, NCDs are projected to kill 52 million people annually by 2030.

"The rise of chronic non communicable diseases presents an enormous challenge," said WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan.

"For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster; a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies."

Heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, accounting for over 180,000 deaths in 2009.

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