Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

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Top Diseases in Azerbaijan


The disease is rampant in Middle Eastern and Eastern European countries. Azerbaijan, located just south of the Caucasus Mountains and home to 9.6 million people, is no exception. Every day, these people are affected by chronic diseases in Azerbaijan, which ranges from heart disease and cancer all the way to infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. Here is a list of the top diseases in Azerbaijan that threaten local citizens.

Cardiovascular Diseases

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 54 percent of deaths in Azerbaijan are caused by cardiovascular diseases. Between 1990 and 2013, the annual mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases in Azerbaijan has increased by 18.2 percent, with an average of 0.8 percent per year. The most severe of cardiovascular diseases in Azerbaijan is Ischemic Heart Disease. However, the number of fatal strokes in Azerbaijan has increased by 24 percent since 1990, and the number of deaths caused by Hypertensive Heart Disease has increased by 33 percent since 1990. Cardiovascular diseases are by far the number one cause of death in Azerbaijan.

Chronic and Lower Respiratory Diseases

Data shows that of the communicable diseases in Azerbaijan, chronic respiratory diseases are the most dangerous. From the list of communicable diseases, lower respiratory infections make up for half of the deaths depending on age group, and the annual mortality rate sharply increases for those over the age of 55. However, things are looking better for chronic respiratory diseases in Azerbaijan; since 1990, the annual mortality rate for lower respiratory infections has decreased by 73 percent.

HIV/AIDS

Although HIV/AIDS does not make up for a large percentage of harm, it is still a very dangerous disease in Azerbaijan. HIV/AIDS has one of the fastest-growing annual mortality rates of any other disease in Azerbaijan. Between 1990 and 2013, the number of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS has increased by 3,247 percent. As of 2015, the number of people in Azerbaijan living with HIV is estimated to be around 11,000, and it is predicted that the number will increase.

Diseases in Azerbaijan are extremely prevalent and have a large effect on citizens’ lives. Organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS are all working closely together in order to properly treat current diseases and prevent future deaths.

– Morgan Leahy

Photo: Flickr

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Noncommunicable Diseases: The Impending Global Health Crisis


The WHO’s “Ten years in public health 2007-2017” report chronicles the “evolution of global public health” over the past decade. The report emphasizes the escalation of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD) as the largest threat to global health.

Chronic NCDs are categorized as diseases that progress slowly. The four main NCDs are cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, all of which share common risk factors abundant in non-health sectors. NCDs have only recently been recognized as a main component in the impending global health crisis. These chronic diseases share four risk factors: tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, unhealthy diet and minimal physical activity.

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 70 percent of global deaths were due to NCDs (39.5 million out of 56.4 million). Out of the 39.5 million NCD fatalities, 30.7 million occurred in low and middle-income countries.

Health systems traditionally rely on curing individual disease as they arise. However, current health systems are not sustainable due to insufficient disease management and care. Access to disease treatment is becoming unavailable for millions of individuals, including affluent people in wealthy countries.

A study released by the World Economic Forum states that diabetes cost the global economy nearly $500 billion in 2010 and this is projected to increase to $745 billion by 2030. Newly approved cancer treatments average $120,000 per person, causing medical care to be “unaffordable for even the richest countries in the world.”

These high costs have four severe implications:

  1. They undermine the traditionally ethical ideal that healthcare should be available to everyone;
  2. The need for social protection becomes obvious when a person has to spend much as 60 percent of their income to get diabetes medication;
  3. Prevention becomes the foundation of global health;
  4. High costs clarify that no economy can outlast the NCD global crisis by investing solely in treatment services.

The WHO report ‘Ten years in public health 2007-2017’ estimates that 40 million people die each year from NDCs, “accounting for 70 percent of all deaths worldwide.” According to Margaret Chan, Director-General at WHO, chronic noncommunicable diseases have surpassed infectious disease as the leading cause of death worldwide.

The WHO’s newly established ‘Health Emergencies Programme’, enables faster response to global pandemics and emergencies. The programme collaborates with various countries and partners to “prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from all hazards that create health emergencies, including disasters, disease outbreaks and conflicts.” It is also focused on community engagement and increasing disease prevention in public health services.

Chan urges the world to focus on implementing universal health care to reduce noncommunicable diseases. It is the ultimate expression of equality, ensuring no one is left behind.

– Madison O’Connell

Photo: Flickr

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Progress Toward Eradicating Ebola


Eradicating Ebola is the global community’s next step in ensuring worldwide health. The disease is rare but extremely contagious, and causes internal and external bleeding as well as a severe fever. As soon as the virus enters the body, it weakens the immune system by attacking immune cells. In time, it causes blood vessels to carry less blood, which results in organ failure and eventual death.

Also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus, the disease is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids or objects that have been contaminated by bodily fluids, such as medical needles. It can also be contracted through contact with infected animals, specifically bats and primates.

There have been a number of Ebola cases internationally but the disease has mainly remained in regions of West Africa. The disease originated in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but it was Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone that witnessed the largest Ebola epidemic in 2014 through 2016. An estimated 28,616 people contracted the disease and this resulted in 11,310 deaths.

Fortunately, the presence of Ebola has been contained since the outbreak. In 2015, researchers from the World Health Organization began testing a vaccine in Guinea, which returned with a 100 percent success rate. This vaccine was developed through a “ring vaccination” approach. The approach separated patients and their immediate contacts from the general public.

The vaccination report was released in December 2016. As Marie-Paule Kieny, lead author of the report, states: “While these compelling results come too late for those who lost their lives during West Africa’s Ebola epidemic, they show that when the next Ebola outbreak hits, we will not be defenseless.” Although the vaccine demonstrates progress in eradicating Ebola, it is in need of additional safety research before it can be formally licensed.

Another development in eliminating Ebola comes from a group of Canadian researchers. The group administered a drug known as Interferon Beta-1a to patients infected with Ebola. The drug, which is used to treat hepatitis B and C, had surprisingly effective results. “After 21 days, 67 percent of the Interferon-treated Ebola patients were still alive, compared to just 19 percent of the others,” reports Tom Blackwell from The National Post.

Although more research must be conducted regarding Interferon Beta-1a, findings look promising. The vaccine also demonstrates significant progress in eradicating Ebola, a disease that is now destined to become an element of the past.

– Gigi DeLorenzo

Photo: Flickr

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Top Three Diseases in Israel

Top 3 Diseases in Israel
While Israel has been able to lower the number of deaths caused by diseases, many conditions in Israel are still prevalent. The death rates from certain diseases in Israel have declined by 80 percent since the 1970s, but there is always room for improvement. Here are the top three diseases in Israel.

Top Three Diseases in Israel

  1. Cancer: Cancer, the major killer in Israel, caused almost one-quarter of total deaths in Israel in 2011. Even though the cancer rate is relatively low compared to other countries, cancer is still a primary cause of death. The most common cancer among Israeli men is lung cancer, which is primarily caused by tobacco smoking. The most common cancer among Israeli women is breast cancer. About 4,500 Israeli women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 900 dying from it. However, according to the Israel Cancer Association, the number of women surviving breast cancer is steadily on the rise thanks to research and technology able to detect early signs. It has also been reported that the lung cancer rate among men is lower than most countries.
  2. Coronary Heart Disease: Coronary Heart Disease is the second most prevalent cause of death in Israel. Together, cancers and heart disease account for 40 percent of deaths. However, like cancer, heart disease in Israel is being contained. The death rate from heart disease in Israel has dropped by 50 percent since 1998, partly due to declines in smoking and national campaigns against obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The people of Israel have been willing to change their lifestyles to prevent heart disease. There are also reliable ambulance services in Israel to respond to any emergency.
  3. Diabetes: Diabetes is the next leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease. Compared to other countries, deaths from diabetes are high in Israel. But the country has tried a number of ways to defeat diabetes including using an artificial pancreas, medical smartphones and glucose-sensing enzymes. Researchers have also been looking for a cure with the help of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Israel Science Foundation. Scientists are also working on an antibody to block killer cells that destroy helpful cells in the pancreas.- Emma MajewskiPhoto: Flickr
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Poverty and Epidemiology of the Top Diseases in France

Poverty and Epidemiology of the Top Diseases in France
It is widely known that developing nations are plagued by different diseases than industrialized nations. While most global deaths by non-communicable diseases occur in poverty-stricken nations, the citizens of industrialized nations also typically die of similar illnesses. In fact, 88 percent of people in high-income countries die of conditions such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

France, a wealthy nation with the fifth largest economy in the world, follows this trend. The top diseases in France are cancer, neuropsychiatric conditions (such as Alzheimer’s), cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Regardless of a country’s income, poverty impacts the epidemiology of disease. The basic relationship between poverty and health is rather straightforward: with lower incomes, the poor struggle to afford quality food and medical treatments. For example, one study suggests that not having access to fresh fruits and veggies may account for the increased rate of gastrointestinal cancers in the poor. Along with a higher infection rate, poor people with cancer often suffer more pain from the disease.

In addition, the impoverished typically have less knowledge about healthy lifestyles and engage in risky activities, such as smoking. Reuters presented a study showing that poverty and poor education correlate directly with the risk of heart disease. Another link between poverty and epidemiology is that poor people typically have weaker support systems. This makes caring for chronic conditions such as diabetes challenging.

While this may be surprising, 14 percent of the Frenh population actually lived below the poverty line in 2012. The unemployment rate was at 9.8 percent in 2014. About 26 percent of French people said they did not follow through on at least one medical treatment due to finances. Those in the lowest quintile of income were three times more likely to not seek medical treatment than those in the top quintile of income. Furthermore, people with higher incomes were more like to see a specialist doctor (such as a cardiologist or oncologist).

Healthcare affordability is not the only connection between poverty and disease. Trends in substance abuse among lower income citizens are also connected with the top diseases in France. Alcohol and tobacco use can be linked to the most avoidable deaths in the country. Alcohol and tobacco are typically used more often in areas with lower socioeconomic statuses. In fact, the unemployed accounted for increasing smoking rates from 44 percent to 50.8 percent between 2005 and 2010. These trends may shed light on the high prevalence of breast and colon cancer in France.

Fortunately, France has universal healthcare; 77.4 percent of healthcare costs are covered by this system. The remaining costs are either out of pocket expenses or covered by voluntary health insurance. Overall, France is a healthy country compared to other European countries. The average life expectancy is eight years longer than other countries in that region. Healthy life expectancy is five years longer.

There are still issues in regards to coverage and access. Poorer people in France are missing treatments because of finances. Consequently, the country is making an effort to reduce the financial burden of the top diseases in France. The government has begun offering free breast and colorectal cancer screenings to older adults. These two cancers account for 16 percent of all cancer deaths in France. Thirty percent of all breast cancer cases in 2012 were detected through the free screenings.

While France is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, citizens are still vulnerable to the effects of poverty. However, the country realizes where healthcare falls short and is working towards protecting vulnerable populations. Lessons learned in France can be used as a model for other nations. Hopefully, the epidemic of chronic diseases will be solved so that today’s developing nations will not have the same plight in the future. Good solutions can transcend culture and help people all over the world.

– Mary Katherine Crowley

Photo: Flickr

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5 Ways Poverty Affects the Developing Brain

Poverty_ Brain
Living in poverty can coincide with numerous social problems — childhood neglect, violence and malnutrition, to name a few. However, there are studies being conducted that show how poverty may potentially affect the developing brain and the cognitive abilities of children. Here are five ways that research is currently showing how poverty affects the brain.

5 Ways Poverty Affects the Developing Brain

  1. Brain scans of children who grow up in poverty reveal that, overall, their brains develop less gray matter in the frontal and parietal lobe. Serving as the control center for the brain, the frontal lobe manages accessory cognitive functions like planning, focusing, problem-solving, organizing and controlling impulses. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information. The Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports that less gray matter in these areas, as seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, can impede children’s abilities to learn even before they enter kindergarten. The research demonstrated that throughout brain growth in the first three years of life, children in a lower socioeconomic status (SES) had significantly lower brain volumes than their higher SES counterparts.
  2. Brains influenced by poverty show a significant decline in cognitive abilities related to memory, reading and language. This is evident through children’s performances on neurocognitive tests as well as brain activity on electroencephalograms (EEG). Research performed by Natalie H. Brito, a postdoctoral research fellow at Columbia University, combined this information along with studies of families to link cognitive abilities to circumstances like neglect, household stress and economic status.
  3. Similar studies conducted by Elizabeth Sowell from The Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and Kimberly Noble from Columbia University demonstrate that brains of children in the lowest income brackets (families who make less than $25,000 annually) have six percent less surface area than children from higher income bracket families.
  4. Developing brains exposed to severe poverty also show smaller hippocampi (the portion of the brain that is central to stress response, memory and learning). Existing research supports the fact that parental caregiving is an important factor in the hippocampal development and childhood wellbeing. Combined with poverty, stressful life experiences result in a lower volume of hippocampi.
  5. A smaller amygdala is also characteristic of growing brains that have been exposed to poverty. Responsible for emotional processing and social information, a smaller amygdala can result in childhood depression and mood and behavioral problems.

The symptoms of poverty include many factors that can contribute to the modifications of a developing child’s DNA – malnutrition, exposure to violence, lack of cognitive stimulation or less time bonding with parents. Rather than present the solution as “eliminate all poverty,” remedies should focus on policies and programs that seek to mitigate the influence of poverty’s external factors. Research in this area is still developing, as scientists and doctors continue to monitor the neuroscience of poverty as children grow into adults.

Brito agrees when she says, “When I talk to a lot of our participants – always worrying about where their next paycheck comes from, always worrying about if they have enough resources – it takes away time and energy from having meaningful interaction with your child. So in developing countries, making sure that those policies are in place so that parents are available to just interact with their child, just play with their child without worry, really does make a big difference.”

– Tammy Hineline

Photo: Flickr

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How Advocacy Cures Depression


Feeling down or uneasy? It could be time to donate to a worthy cause. A growing body of evidence shows a strong correlation between poverty and multiple forms of mental illness, including depression. The good news is that the inverse is also being proven true; reducing poverty improves mental health, not only for those receiving aid but also for those who provide it. Here are some of the most recent findings on how advocacy cures depression:

According to Spring.org, people in the U.S. have become 5 percent less happy over the past decade, despite average household earnings increasing in the same period of time. The same study determined that Norway and Denmark were the happiest countries, compared to America’s position as the 14th happiest.

“I don’t think Denmark has a monopoly on happiness. What works in the Nordic countries is a sense of community and understanding in the common good,” Meik Wiking, CEO of Copenhagen’s Happiness Research Institute stated by way of explanation. The effects of poverty on depression were shown to be quite clear: the unhappiest countries, which include Liberia, Yemen, Rwanda and Syria are all among the poorest on earth.

The implication of the study seems to add another line to the old adage: money may not be able to buy happiness, but it may be able to buy happiness for someone else in need. Science is discovering that the giver also benefits—one study of 846 people from the American Journal of Public Health found that the act of helping others creates an increased tolerance to stressful life events.

Altruistic acts, such as raising awareness for charitable causes, have been shown to result in numerous psychological and physical health benefits including reducing stress, maintaining a positive life perspective and even boosting longevity.

Crick Lund, University of Capetown psychologist and head of the international consortium called PRIME (Programme for Improving Mental Health Care), is another key researcher in determining how advocacy cures depression. He has dedicated his career to providing mental health treatment for people living in low-income and low-resource areas. His research on the link between poverty and depression is being conducted across five sub-Saharan countries in Africa and is expected to show early results by 2018.

The next time the blues hits, it may be worth considering getting the squad together to volunteer at the local shelter or make a donation to a nonprofit such as The Borgen Project. Since advocacy cures depression, not only will it make life better for someone who truly needs it, it will make the giver feel great too.

– Dan Krajewski

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Women’s Health: The AIDS Epidemic


The global AIDS epidemic continues to threaten women’s health. There has been significant worldwide progress in combating this outbreak, as evidenced by a U.N. report showing a 33 percent global reduction in newly diagnosed HIV infections from 2001 to 2012. However, development has been disproportionate for women, especially in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.

As the Joint U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS reports, adolescent girls accounted for 64 percent of new HIV infections among youth globally in 2013. In addition, sub-Saharan Africa houses 80 percent of young women with HIV worldwide. Those aged 15 to 24 are nearly twice as likely to contract AIDS compared to their male counterparts.

Such statistics have a number of causes. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV if they have experienced physical or sexual abuse, especially through relationships that involve extramarital sex or little-to-no contraceptive use. Social norms, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, also impose barriers, as men have more dominance over women in relationships.

Lack of education, specifically sex education, also plays a role in women’s disproportionate diagnosis of HIV. A report by the U.N. demonstrated that out of 32 countries, “Women who had some level of secondary education were five times more likely than non-literate women to have knowledge of HIV.”

The probable leading cause of the AIDS epidemic affecting women comes from a lack of health services. Those who have insufficient access to HIV and reproductive health care treatments and support are less likely to monitor their health and thereby reduce infection. This is the case in many African regions. Laws also introduce obstacles; for example, in 2014, nine countries reported regulations that inhibit girls from obtaining HIV-related services.

Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe, confirms: “This epidemic, unfortunately, remains an epidemic of women.” Fortunately, however, a number of organizations have made motions to counter the problem, beginning with UNAIDS itself. In 2015, it introduced a global initiative of reducing HIV infections to about half a million per year by 2020. This plan involves reducing new infections among women by a factor of 75 percent.

As the Human Rights Watch notes, such can be accomplished through legal reform, the implementation of health awareness programs, mandatory education measures and assistance from international NGOs. In order to combat the AIDS epidemic and its effect on women, serious action must continue worldwide.

– Genevieve T. DeLorenzo

Photo: Flickr

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Helping Others Helps You to Live Longer

Volunteering_health
A study from December 2016 indicated that the secret to humanity’s desire to live longer may not exist in pills, surgical treatments, lotions, fad diets or exhausting workouts. The research, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, indicates that simply helping others increases the probability of living longer. Although the study focuses on grandparents who give occasional care to children or grandchildren, it also discusses the health benefits gained by childless couples who provide support to other people.

The researchers state that the neural and hormonal system that is triggered during caregiving can positively impact health and reduce the mortality of the helper. They indicate that these benefits occur when applied to both relatives and non-relatives.

Good Vibes from Volunteering

This study’s findings are not unique. A 2013 review of 40 similar studies indicated that volunteering can reduce early mortality rates by a surprising 22 percent. Published in BMC Public Health, the review also indicated that when people volunteer, they feel good. This can reduce depression and increase contentment.

In a statement, lead author Dr. Suzanne Richards states, “Our systematic review shows that volunteering is associated with improvements in health.”

We Can Do Better

However, the review indicates that our global community has room for improvement. Only 27 percent of Americans and 22 percent of Europeans volunteer their time. Australia is slightly more altruistic, with 36 percent of Australians performing community service.

Having a busy schedule doesn’t necessarily exclude someone from the benefits of community service, since it doesn’t take a major time commitment to reap the rewards. According to the review, just an hour of volunteer work per month is enough for participants to absorb those positive emotions and potentially live longer.

It’s likely that many people are capable of finding a way to spare an hour a month to support the causes important to them. Health and longevity may just depend on it.

– Gisele Dunn

Photo: Flickr

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Water Quality in Canada


The drinking water in Canada is generally of excellent quality. The risks to the drinking water supply are minimal. However, the minerals, silt, vegetation, fertilizers and agricultural run-off in the water may pose some health risks.

Canada has a multi-barrier approach to safe drinking water which serves as a guideline for every drinking water system and is used to maintain water quality.

The federal government plays the most important role in scientific research monitoring and leadership on the development of guidelines for water quality in Canada. Seventy-five percent of Canadians are serviced by municipal sewer systems and the remaining 25 percent by septic disposal systems. Despite the best efforts of suppliers, municipal water supplies can sometimes become contaminated and in these cases, precautionary measures such as boiling water before consumption is advised.

Municipal water waste discharges were one of the largest sources of pollution to the water quality in Canada in 2006 and generated 84 percent of the water effluents reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory.

The water quality in Canada earns an ‘A’ grade for water quality and ranks 4th out of 17 peer OECD countries. Water quality in Canada is mostly affected by industrial effluent, agricultural runoff and municipal sewage pollution.

Sewage treatment continues to improve as more municipalities upgrade their treatment facilities and there has been an increase in the frequency and extent to which drinking water guidelines for nitrate have been exceeded in groundwater across the country.

Data collected from the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s water quality index reports that from 2007 to 2009, the freshwater quality was rated marginally fair at 41 percent of the water stations, good at 33 percent of the stations and excellent at 10 percent of the stations, with only 16 percent rated poor.

The quality of water in Canada is the best it has ever been and is much better today than it was 30 years ago.

– Rochelle R. Dean

Photo: Flickr