The WHO fact sheet on household air pollution highlights that around 2.1 billion people rely on solid fuels like wood and coal for cooking, using open fires or inefficient stoves. This leads to severe indoor air pollution, contributing to about 3.2 million premature deaths each year, including over ...237,000 children under five. Health impacts include strokes, heart disease, COPD, and lung cancer. Women and children are particularly affected due to their roles in cooking and fuel gathering. WHO calls for the adoption of clean energy solutions, such as electricity and solar power, to mitigate the health risks associated with household air pollution.
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The article on the PAHO website discusses the health risks of excessive salt consumption, which contributes to numerous deaths worldwide. It highlights that average salt intake significantly exceeds WHO recommendations, particularly in the Americas, and suggests measures like reducing salt in foods ...and implementing clear nutritional labeling to prevent diseases.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) provides an overview of this common lung condition characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation.
Le nombre de personnes atteintes de diabète est passé de 108 millions en 1980 à 422 millions en 2014
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are significant differences in the burden of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, across high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. Cardiac imaging by echocardiography, cardia...c computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging are well-established non-invasive tests that aid in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of various cardiac diseases. However, there are significant inequalities in availability and access to imaging modalities in low- and middle-income countries attributed to financial constraints, disparities in healthcare and technical infrastructure. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, these disparities are exaggerated by the continued technological advancements driving innovations in the field of cardiovascular (CV) imaging in high-income countries, while there is an urgent need to provide sustainable access to diagnostic imaging for patients in economically strained healthcare systems in regions like Africa. This review aims to highlight the inequalities in the burden of cardiac disease, associated risk factors, and access to diagnostic CV imaging tests, while also exploring the need for sustainable solutions to implementing CV imaging all over the world.
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The WHO fact sheet on household air pollution highlights that around 2.1 billion people rely on solid fuels like wood and coal for cooking, using open fires or inefficient stoves. This leads to severe indoor air pollution, contributing to about 3.2 million premature deaths each year, including over ...237,000 children under five. Health impacts include strokes, heart disease, COPD, and lung cancer. Women and children are particularly affected due to their roles in cooking and fuel gathering. WHO calls for the adoption of clean energy solutions, such as electricity and solar power, to mitigate the health risks associated with household air pollution.
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The article "The Rising Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Americas and the Impact of Population Aging" examines how the aging population in the Americas is contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), despite improvements in disease prevention and health care. Usi...ng data from the World Health Organization and the United Nations, the study analyzes trends in population growth, aging, and NCD-related mortality and disability rates from 2000 to 2019 across 33 countries.
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The video titled "Personalizing Selection of Inhaled Delivery Systems in COPD" discusses the complexities healthcare professionals face when prescribing inhaled therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It highlights the diverse range of available medications and delivery systems, ...noting that while medication categorization has been extensively studied, guidance on selecting appropriate inhaler devices remains limited and lacks consensus in COPD guidelines. The video proposes a novel strategy to address this issue, aiming to enhance the personalization of inhaled therapy for COPD patients.
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Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resist...ant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. In the past three decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. For people living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival. There is a globally agreed target to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025
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The article analyzes the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights that environmental exposures, such as biomass fuel usage and air pollution, significantly contribute to respiratory health issues in the region. The research underlines... the limited healthcare infrastructure, insufficient diagnostic tools, and the need for comprehensive data collection to better understand the burden of respiratory diseases. The authors advocate for targeted public health interventions, improved access to healthcare, and policies aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors to mitigate the prevalence of respiratory conditions.
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The Cedars-Sinai webpage on occupational lung diseases provides an overview of various lung conditions caused by exposure to harmful substances in the workplace. It outlines common types of occupational lung diseases, including asbestosis, silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and chemical-rela...ted lung disorders. The page details symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest pain, emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment. Preventative measures, including workplace safety practices and protective equipment, are also highlighted to reduce risk. The information underscores the role of medical evaluation and ongoing management for individuals exposed to occupational hazards.
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The document is a policy brief by the NCD Alliance for the 2023 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It highlights the importance of integrating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) into UHC efforts, with the goal of ensuring equitable health access worldwide.
Since there is no single objective diagnostic test for asthma this study suggests an approach of collecting and assembling pieces of clinical information to create a diagnostic picture, like making a jigsaw puzzle. These pieces should include demonstration of symptom and airway variability and/or br...onchodilator responsiveness over time, to support a clinical diagnosis.
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El presente informe incluye análisis de consultas informales en cinco de las regiones de la OMS: la Región de África, la Región de las Américas (donde se realizaron consultas separadas para el Caribe y América del Norte, y para América Latina), la Región de Asia Sudoriental, la Región de Eu...ropa y la Región del Mediterráneo Oriental, junto con tres foros en la Región del Pacífico Occidental. Se analizan las similitudes generales, los matices regionales y las prioridades planteadas en las seis regiones de la OMS para la participación significativa de las personas con experiencias vividas.
El presente informe es la segunda publicación de la serie «De la intención a la acción», un conjunto de recursos destinados a mejorar la limitada base de evidencia sobre el impacto de la participación significativa y abordar la falta de enfoques normalizados sobre cómo hacer operativa esta participación. La serie «De la intención a la acción» pretende llevar esto a cabo proporcionando una plataforma desde la que las personas con experiencias vividas, y los defensores de organizaciones e instituciones, puedan compartir soluciones, retos y prácticas prometedoras relacionadas con esta agenda transversal. La serie «De la intención a la acción» también tiene como objetivo proporcionar poderosas historias, inspiración y evidencia para la 4.ª Reunión de Alto Nivel de las Naciones Unidas sobre las ENT que se celebrará en 2025 y la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de las Naciones Unidas para 2030.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed this report to monitor progress and identify areas for action in the implementation of sodium reduction policies and other measures within Member States and across WHO regions and World Bank income groups. For the first time, a Sodium Country Score f...rom 1 (the lowest level) to 4 (the highest level) is allocated to each Member State based on the level of implementation of sodium reduction policies and other measures. The Sodium Country Score is used to estimate the impact of policy progress on population dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular disease.
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The document provides quality standards for managing Type 1 diabetes in adults, emphasizing areas like structured education, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), cardiovascular risk management, and diabetic foot assessment. It aims to improve care processes, reduce complications, and enhance patient... outcomes through evidence-based and patient-centered approaches. The guidelines also focus on supporting inpatient self-management and ensuring equality and accessibility in diabetes care.
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One in three people globally suffers from at least one form of malnutrition, leading to poor health outcomes and low productivity in the workplace. The workplace offers an important, relatively unexploited opportunity to address malnutrition in all its forms. This narrative literature review aims to... understand the impact of workforce nutrition programmes on nutrition, health, and business outcomes, based on high-strength-of-evidence studies. We used PubMed as our primary research database, complemented by Google Scholar, to identify systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomised controlled trials published between January 2010 and October 2021. In total, 26 records were included. We found that comprehensive workforce nutrition programmes, including a variety of intervention areas, and/or programmes targeting high-risk categories of workers (overweight/obese or (pre-)diabetic) were more likely to be effective on nutrition, health, and business outcomes. Within comprehensive and targeted programmes, individualised counselling and worksite environmental modifications were often mentioned as the most effective components. However, a high degree of heterogeneity in outcome measures and programme designs made it difficult to draw strong conclusions on the impact of workforce nutrition interventions. Limited evidence was found on business outcomes, longer-term effects of interventions, and programme implementation in LMICs. Therefore, further research is needed to address these evidence gaps.
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The NCD Alliance website provides information and resources on preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental health conditions. The Alliance advocates for global health policies, supports countries i...n integrating NCD care into universal health coverage, and fosters collaboration among governments, civil society, and health organizations. Key sections include policy briefs, advocacy priorities, research reports, and campaigns aimed at reducing NCD-related health disparities and improving health outcomes worldwide. The site serves as a hub for NCD advocacy, awareness, and community engagement.
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Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is less common than type 2 diabetes mellitus but is increasing in frequency in South Africa. It tends to affect younger individuals, and upon diagnosis, exogenous insulin is essential for survival. In South Africa, the health care system is divided into private and pu...blic health care systems. The private system is well resourced, whereas the public sector, which treats more than 80% of the population, has minimal resources. There are currently no studies in South Africa, and Africa at large, that have evaluated the immediate and long-term costs of managing people living with T1DM in the public sector.
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The World Health Organization's fact sheet on diabetes provides an overview of the disease, highlighting its increasing prevalence, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It outlines the main types of diabetes—Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes—detailing their characteristics an...d risk factors. The document emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and management to prevent complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and vision loss. Preventive measures include maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding tobacco use. The fact sheet also discusses WHO's initiatives aimed at monitoring, preventing, and controlling diabetes globally.
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