- Lifestyle diseases occur due to the change in the daily habits of people because of an inappropriate relationship of people and the environment. Factors contributing to lifestyle diseases include poor eating habits, bad posture during working, and physical inactivity. According to World Health Organization (2009), report unhealthy lifestyles and faulty diet account for many deaths in the world today (Glennie, 2010). Working people suffer depression, obesity, backache, and diabetes. Glennie (2010) argues that many adults suffer hypertension and store due to lack of inactivity since they work for long hours in order to meet strict deadlines. Other occupational diseases occurring due to lifestyle factors include chronic liver diseases and respiratory problems that occur due to pollutants in the environment.
- HIV/ AIDS continue to account for many deaths around the world. A recent report by World Health Organization cites that there are over 40 million people infected with the virus (Glennie, 2010). HIV/ AIDS affect the economic impact of countries due to lack of human resource that is essential for the production. This is because mostly the disease affects the able-bodied young people whose effort steer the economy of a country (WHO, 2009). A country uses enormous resources to purchase antiretroviral drugs, and this slows down the progress of the economy.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung infection caused by lack of breath due to poor ventilation or the habit of smoking. Glennie (2010) ranks this disease as the fourth cause of death since it accounts for more than 5 million deaths worldwide. COPD results, in close to $ 3 trillion in expenditure to treat the disease.
- Tuberculosis is an infectious disease by bacteria called mycobacterium. This disease consumes people internally. Tuberculosis is a major cause of death around the world. Glennie (2010) cites that there are over 2 million deaths emanating from this disease especially from people with HIV/AIDS.
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease transmitted to people through the mosquito parasite. A recent report cites close to 207 million cases related to malaria around the world. This disease is prevalent among the African children who die mostly due to malaria infections. The half of the world’s population is at risk contracting malaria (Glennie, 2010).
In this century, the health of people living in America continues to improve. Turnock (2009) opinion is that advances in the public health have lengthened the lifespan of Americans. The notable health achievements occur during in this era and seek to prevent deaths, illness, and the issue of disability in America.
- Vaccination has ensured the control and eradication of polio, smallpox, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria among other infections around the globe.
- The improvements in motor-vehicle safety efforts have translated to few issues about road carnage. There is an increased use of safety belts among the motorists, use of motorcycle helmets and fewer instances of drinking and driving.
- The prior issues of pneumoconiosis that affected the workers have come under safer control in this decade.
- There has been a decrease in injuries and deaths in mining, construction, and manufacturing activities. The fatal occupational injuries have better management to minimize work related issues.
- Clean water and sanitation has controlled instances of infectious diseases. Illness and death due to contaminated water has decreased dramatically in this decade.
- According to Turnock (2009), scientists have discovered antimicrobial therapy to control the infection and spread of diseases.
- Coronary heart diseases and stroke cases have lessened due to the cessation of smoking practices, in the work places, to ensure people have good blood pressure control.
- The market has healthier foods that are rich in nutritional content, and this will eliminate nutritional deficiency disease such as goiter and rickets in the country. Additionally, The availability of antibiotics and health facilities promote the well-being of mothers and babies.
- Technological advances towards family planning methods provide health benefits to families. The practice of fluoridation of drinking water ensures children do not suffer from tooth decay regardless of class in America.
- Massive campaigns to emphasize cessation of smoking have changed the norms of people in society. This move promotes public health and the well-being of people.
While all the above mentioned achievements are noteworthy, I select to discuss the tenth achievement and how it was attained. Apparently, the anti-smoking campaigns have been among the most rigorous crusades in the global public health sector. In seeking to understand how the campaigns’ effectiveness was attained, it is important to focus on the fundamental steps taken by the campaigners and other stakeholders of the public health sector, and more so the government (Barry, 2005). This achievement was attained through using the government policies to require the companies manufacturing and packaging cigarettes to indicate the potential dangers of excessive smoking on the packets bearing cigarettes (Barry, 2005). Additionally, the government worked together with other non-governmental organizations and municipal authorities to ban public smoking, especially in urban regions. All these combined efforts saw the realization of this great achievement.
Reference
Glennie, J. L. (2010). Health-Related Quality Of Life and Regulatory Issues in The US And Canada. PharmacoEconomics, 21(6), 371-377.
World Health Organization. (2009). Global health risks: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.
Ten Great Public Health Achievements in America
Turnock, Bernard J. (2009). Public Health: What It Is and How It Works, (4th Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Barry, J. M. (2005). The great influenza: The story of the deadliest plague in history. New York: Penguin Books.
