Which diseases are more prevalent in your country and what can be done to prevent them?

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~ Which diseases are most prevalent in your country & how can they be combated?

In today’s highly hectic and very fast moving life, diseases of all types are erupting at an alarming speed. Among these, cardio vascular diseases, diabetes, hypertensions and obesity, emerge as a very prominent disease. Along with the rest of the world, Mauritius too has been affected by this emergence. The situation, however, is quite shocking in Mauritius and we are actually experiencing a rapid health transition, with large rising burdens of chronic diseases.

  1. Diabetes ;

Diabetes is one of the most common medical problems in Mauritius. About 25% of the Mauritian adults suffer from diabetes and are at a high risk on developing the condition. It is believed that diabetes is today the most common cause of death in Mauritius.

Diabetes occurs when the body can’t make enough insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it makes. We have 2 forms of Diabetes:

One form of diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and permanently disables the insulin-making cells in the pancreas. This is type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile-onset, or insulin-dependent, diabetes.

The other form of diabetes begins when muscle and other cells stop responding to insulin’s open-up-for-glucose signal. The body responds by making more and more insulin, essentially trying to ram blood sugar into cells. Eventually, the insulin-making cells get exhausted and begin to fail. This is type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, since it was almost unheard in children. But with the rising rates of childhood obesity, it has become more common in youth, especially among certain ethnic groups.

  • Prevention of Diabetes;

Making a few lifestyle changes can lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

  1. Weight Control - Excess weight is the single most important cause of type 2 diabetes. Being overweight increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes seven fold. Being obese makes you 20 to 40 times more likely to develop diabetes than someone with a healthy weight.

Losing weight can help if your weight is above the healthy-weight range. Losing 7-10 % of your current weight can cut your chances of developing type 2 diabetes in half.

  1. Get moving (Be more active) – Inactivity promotes type 2 diabetes. Working your muscles more often and making them work harder improves their ability to use insulin and absorb glucose. This puts less stress on your insulin-making cells.
  2. Tune up the diet – A. Choose whole grains and whole grain products over highly processed carbohydrates. (Whole grains are rich in essential vitamins & minerals that may help reduce the risk of diabetes.)          B. Skip the sugary drinks, and choose water, coffee, or tea instead. C. Choose good fats instead of bad fats. (Such as, polyunsaturated fats found in liquid vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds can help ward off type 2 diabetes. : fats found in many margarines, packaged baked goods, fried foods in most fast-food restaurants, and any product that lists “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” on the label.)                                        C. Limit red meat and avoid processed meat; choose nuts, whole grains, poultry, or fish instead. (Such as, beef, pork, lamb bacon, hot dogs etc...)  
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D. Quit Smoking.

  1.  Cardiovascular Diseases ;

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include:

  • coronary heart disease: disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle;
  • cerebrovascular disease: disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain;
  • peripheral arterial disease: disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs;
  • congenital heart disease: malformations of heart structure existing at birth;
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.

Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and ...

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