Awareness of Disease Prevention
Here’s How to Reduce the Risks of Major Diseases with Healthy Lifestyle Habits.
The disease-prevention approach is critical to improving our health and reducing healthcare costs.
Reducing Risks to Prevent Significant Diseases
Life is full of risks. They are inevitable. Humans survive and thrive by taking and managing risks. Rather than avoiding risks, the wise approach is to mitigate risks using our intellect and intuition.
Risk management is also crucial for our health, especially for preventing diseases. The body of knowledge documented health risks throughout history after the invention of print materials.
Understanding the risks threatening our health and addressing these risks via lifestyle choices, medication, genetic manipulation, and various therapies is a standard approach globally.
Even though governments and healthcare professionals strive to protect our health, health is the responsibility of individuals.
Therefore, it is critical to understand and accept that external sources cannot heal diseases. Only our bodies can self-heal with self-love and the help of external sources.
While treatments and curing are essential requirements, prevention of diseases by reducing known risks with healthy lifestyle approaches is critical. Thus, I aim to create awareness by leveraging my reviews, observations, and experience with health matters.
In this article, I only focus on lifestyle choices, excluding medication, genetics, and therapies which I plan to cover in another story.
Purpose of the Article
In this story, I highlight the significant diseases causing high morbidity and mortality globally, with stats documented in reliable sources.
I published several articles touching on significant diseases. In this article, I summarize the takeaway points to make this post helpful for readers of my content.
I provide relevant links to the original stories to prevent duplication.
This piece serves my readers as a curated collection allowing them to access the original articles with links in this story. So, interested readers might click on the relevant reports and check out my reviews.
This article is for information to create awareness of disease risks. It does not include health or professional advice.
Common Risk Factors Regarding Lifestyle Choices
Based on my literature reviews, I noticed seven typical risks associated with major diseases. Therefore, I provide a high-level introduction to these risks for awareness purposes.
1 — Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies top the risk list. Nutritional deficiencies cause imbalances in the body, increasing stress and causing severe health conditions.
Thus, addressing nutritional deficiency can significantly reduce the risks of numerous diseases.
2 — Excessive Food Consumption
Overconsuming food can cause numerous metabolic disorders. Balancing macronutrients (proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are critical to reducing metabolic health risks.
Refraining from empty calories and focusing on nutrient-dense food for energy and recovery is a wise lifestyle choice.
2 — Chronic Stress
Stress on the body and mind is the root cause of many ailments. The body and brain need acute stress to grow and maintain homeostasis. However, chronic stress, especially cumulative and emotional stress, is detrimental to the body and brain.
3 — Chronic Inflammation
Like stress, chronic inflammation is also associated with the risks of numerous ailments. The body needs acute inflammation for recovery from injuries.
However, excessive inflammation is toxic to the body, adversely affecting hormones, neurotransmitters, and cell health.
4 — Sedentary Life
The body and the brain need movement to survive and thrive. The lymphatic system is the first line of defense against toxins and pathogens that need exercise to detoxify the body and boost the immune system. Our muscles and bones also need movement to maintain the status quo.
5 — Sleep Deprivation
Sleep is a non-negotiable need for humans. Sleep deprivation leads to chronic stress and inflammation, putting the body in a metabolically disadvantaged position. We need restorative sleep daily to protect the body and brain.
6 — Harmful Habits
The adverse effects of some habits, like harmful drugs and smoking cigarettes, on the body are well documented in the body of knowledge. In addition, other practices such as eating junk food, sedentary life, and risky behaviors are considered harmful habits for health, increasing the risks of major diseases.
7 — Environmental Toxicity
The body has a robust defense system. However, it struggles to deal with excessive toxins, especially those ingested from the environment. Those toxins and pathogens from the environment break the body’s delicate balance.
1 — Non-Communicable Diseases
Impact of NCDs
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), I noticed that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people yearly. This number equates to 71% of all deaths globally.
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of NCDs
Based on documented risk factors in the literature and highlights from the World Health Organization, the top five risk reduction methods for NCDs are:
1 — Refrain from tobacco smoking.
2 — Increase physical activity.
3 — Reduce taking excessive alcohol.
4 — Refrain from unhealthy diets.
5 — Make the body more insulin sensitive.
Access to the Original Article
I documented my reviews of NCDs in an article titled What Can We Do About Non-Communicable Diseases Killing 41 Million People Yearly?.
2 — Cardiovascular Diseases
Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases
According to CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), “one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease each year.
This stat by CDC equates to one in every four deaths in the US.
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Cardiovascular Diseases
1 — Address metabolic syndrome risk factors
2 — Reduce chronic inflammation
3 — Decrease chronic stress
I cover these points in the metabolic and mental health sections below.
Access to the Original Article
I documented my reviews in an article titled Three Tips to Improve Cardiovascular Health.
3 — Cancers
Impact of Cancers
Cancers are the most complicated diseases. However, even though cancers are complex and challenging conditions, I firmly believe that reducing risks with lifestyle changes is possible based on my reviews.
According to World Health Organization:
“Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. The most common in 2020, in terms of new cases of cancer, were: breast (2.26 million), lung (2.21 million), colon and rectum (1.93 million), prostate (1.41 million), skin — non-melanoma (1.20 million), and stomach (1.09 million) cases.”
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Cancers
Here are the generic takeaway points from the literature review, especially from the World Health Organization. I have no personal experience with cancers.
1. Refrain from tobacco smoking.
2. Maintaining a healthy body weight.
3. Eat a healthy diet.
4. Perform physical activity regularly.
5. Avoid harmful use of alcohol.
6. Getting vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B if you belong to a group for which vaccination is recommended.
7. Avoid ultraviolet radiation (which primarily results from exposure to the sun and artificial tanning devices).
8. Ensure safe and appropriate use of radiation in health care
9. minimizing occupational exposure to ionizing radiation
10. Reduce exposure to outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution, including radon (a radioactive gas produced from the natural decay of uranium, which can accumulate in buildings.
Access to Original Articles
I published two articles related to cancers.
The first one is titled Why I Believe That Cancer Might Be Preventable.
The second one is titled Intermittent Fasting and Keto Diet for Cancer Prevention and Treatment.
4 — Infectious Diseases
Impact of Infectious Diseases
According to World Health Organization (WHO), around 17 million people have died from infectious diseases yearly since 1996. WHO listed infectious diseases in the top ten from a mortality perspective.
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Infectious Diseases
1 — Maintain personal hygiene.
2 — Pay attention to clean food, water, and air.
3 — Improve immune system.
4 — Get medication timely.
5 — Immunize.
6 — Practice safe sex.
Access to the Original Article
I documented my reviews in an article titled Five Tips to Prevent Infectious Diseases.
I also published an article titled Hormonal Effects of Covid-19 Virus.
5 — Neonatal Disorders
Impact of Neonatal Disorders
Neonatal disorders include prematurity, respiratory dysfunction, birth trauma, congenital malformations, neonatal infection, and hemolytic disorders of newborn babies. According to the World Health Organization, neonatal disorders are the number one leading cause of death by income.
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Neonatal Disorders
1 — Perform regular antenatal check-ups.
2 — Maintain a balanced diet during pregnancy and after delivery.
3 — Focus on hygiene in hospitals and at home.
4 — Immunize the mother and the baby timely.
5 — Avoid repeated pregnancies.
6 — Obtain genetic counseling.
7 — Determine blood groupings.
8 — Treat neonatal disorders timely.
Access to the Original Article
I documented my reviews in an article titled Reduce the Risks of Neonatal Disorders to Prevent Infant Mortality.
6 — Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative disorders are fascinating as I have been researching them for decades as part of my postdoctoral studies.
As Alzheimer’s is the primary dementia type, other common neurodegenerative disorders include Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Korsakoff’s Syndrome, and Motor Neuron Diseases such as ALS.
According to World Health Organization, around 50 million people have dementia, and there are nearly ten million new cases yearly.
As documented in this source: “An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s dementia today.”
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Neurodegenerative Diseases
1 — Move the body regularly and personalize your workout regimen.
2 — Get adequate and restorative sleep daily.
3 — Customize your diet aiming to consume nutrient-dense foods.
4 — Express emotions, and consider psychotherapy to prevent chronic stress.
5 — Get medical support to reduce chronic inflammation.
6 — Consider time-restricted eating to give the brain alternative energy.
7 — Refrain from smoking, harmful drugs, and excessive alcohol use.
8 — Eliminate toxins and pathogens.
10 — Create cognitive reserves with mindfulness practices.
11 — Work in a flow state.
12 — Remember to have fun, smile, and laugh.
Access to Original Articles
Mental health is a broad topic. For example, I published hundreds of articles about neurodegenerative diseases and mental health. Thus, I only link some samples to give perspectives to readers.
Neurological Effects of Covid-19 Virus from Preliminary Studies
Scientific Links Between Covid-19 and Alzheimer’s-Like Brain Impairment
Dementia: Perspectives on Korsakoff’s Syndrome & Vitamin B1 Deficiency
Become Less Prone to Neurodegenerative Disorders with Five Tips.
Increase Cognitive Flexibility and Emotional Maturity with Five Habits
Unbearable Feeling of Anhedonia: How Can We Enjoy Life Again?
The Secret: Leverage RAS to Accomplish Dreams with Less Effort
Keto Diets + Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle Tick the Boxes of Health Goals.
Enhance Metabolic and Mental Health by Reducing Deficiencies of Key Nutrients
I Fixed My Brain Fog with Seven Simple Habits During a Midlife Crisis
Defeat Chronic Stress for a Healthy and Happy Life with Five Tips
Practical Ways to Deal with 3 Universal Threats Causing Stress and Anxiety
Sharpen the Mind for Lasting Health and Happiness in 3 Practical Steps
Start the Day with a Spark and Live a Joyful Life in Five Easy Steps
Ten Hobbies Enhanced the Quality of My Life over the Past Five Decades
7 — Metabolic Disorders
Being close to my heart, I left this to the end as I produced significant content on metabolic disorders, reflecting on my experience, observations, and reviews.
Impact of Metabolic Disorders
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “obesity and its associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the US health care system, including direct and indirect costs of $147 billion in 2008”.
Metabolic syndrome is the root cause of numerous health conditions like type II diabetes, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and some cancers.
Metabolic syndrome is a bigger problem for the aging population because as people get older, their metabolism slows down, and their defense systems weaken. Thus, unhealthy older people are usually prone to more type II diabetes, heart attacks, and cancers.
Takeaway Points to Reduce Risks of Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic diseases are very comprehensive. Therefore, I encapsulated the risk prevention approach under five broad categories. The linked articles touch on various aspects of these categories.
1 — Fix Chronic Stress, Fatigue, and Anxiety
2 — Make the Body Insulin and Leptin Sensitive
3 — Find Effective Ways to Mobilize Fat
4 — Maintain lean muscles.
5 — Balance hormones.
Access to Original Articles
I have written many articles about metabolic disorders as they affected me in my younger years. However, using healthy lifestyle choices, I reversed my metabolic syndrome and eliminated pre-diabetes.
Here are the links to selected articles related to metabolic disorders:
Three Tips to Eliminate Insulin Resistance and Shrink Waistline
Reduce Abdominal Fat and Increase Lean Muscles with Two Practical Steps
Lean, Fit, & Happy While Becoming Insulin Sensitive, Reducing the Risk of Metabolic Disorders
How a Single-Mum Reversed Her Obesity and Built up a Unicorn Business
How Alberto Melted His Potbelly & Doubled Testosterone in a Year
Fixing Three Health Conditions Accelerated Rosalia’s Fat Loss
How Alberto Melted His Potbelly & Doubled Testosterone in a Year
Bruno’s Diet Led Him to Loss of Visceral Fat and Gain of Lean Muscles
Three Health Foods Ruined Juliana’s Health When Used Excessively
Audrey Eliminated Back Pain and Transformed Her Appearance Dedicating to Six Minute Plank.
With 90+ Audiobooks Annually, Aria Improved Her Knowledge and Defined Her body.
Charlotte Lost 40 Pounds of Visceral Fat After Winning the Battle Against Chronic Fatigue.
After Defeating Arthritis Pain, Shane Lost Visceral Fat and Gained Lean Muscles in Five Steps.
Tina Quit Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol and Replaced Them with Healthier Options.
8 — Other Diseases Related to Organs
Conclusions and Takeaways
Disease treatment is necessary. I am grateful that healthcare professionals diligently work on treating diseases timely all over the world.
However, as individuals, we have responsibility and accountability in preventing diseases. Thus, risk management is a critical part of our health and well-being journey.
Treating diseases is crucial. However, preventing them with healthy lifestyle choices before they manifest in our lives is wise.
The body and mind are connected intricately.
Physical and mental health are like yin and yang. When we look after our bodies with good nutrition, sleep, rest, movement, and fun, we can also improve our mental health.
By understanding these risks and taking appropriate actions timely, we can significantly prevent disease formation, improve healthspan, and extend lifespan.
Of course, there are other factors, like genetics, beyond our control. However, healthy lifestyle style choices can have epigenetic effects turning on protective genes and turning off disease-inducing ones.
There are many more diseases that I plan to cover in future articles.
Two low-hanging fruits to lower the risks from my experience are exercise and time-restricted eating, as I explained in this article.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
As a new reader, you might check my holistic health and well-being stories reflecting on my reviews, observations, and decades of sensible experiments. I write about health as it matters. I believe health is all about homeostasis.
Sample Health Improvement Articles for New Readers
I write about various hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, glutamate, and histamine.
I also wrote about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:
Lutein/Zeaxanthin, Phosphatidylserine, Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, PQQ, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, zinc, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Cod Liver Oil, and other nutrients to improve metabolism and mental health.
Disclaimer: My posts do not include professional or health advice. I document my reviews, observations, experience, and perspectives only to provide information and create awareness.
I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. My focus is on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health. Here is my collection of Insightful Life Lessons from Personal Stories.
If you enjoy writing and storytelling, you can join Medium, NewsBreak, and Vocal as a creator to find your voice, reach out to a broad audience, and monetize your content.
You may also check my blog posts about my articles and articles of other writers contributing to my publications on Medium. I share them on my website digitalmehmet.com. Here is my professional bio. You can contact me via weblink.
You might join my six publications on Medium as a writer by sending a request via this link. 19K+ writers contribute to my publications. You might find more information about my professional background.
If you enjoy reading, you may join Medium with my referral link for limitless access to my stories and other writers.
