 |
Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
Location: WHO > NCD Prevention and Health Promotion > Risk Factors
Addressing Common Risk Factors
Four of the most prominent NCDs – cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes – are linked by common preventable risk factors related to lifestyle.
Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet and
physical inactivity
Strong evidence shows how much of the occurrence of these diseases can be
prevented by addressing these factors, notably integrated prevention targets them and
helps prevent all major NCDs.
Integrated NCD prevention in the population, through guided changes in these risk factors, is the most cost effective way for NCD control and for major public health gains. Risk factors should be targeted on individual, family, community and national level. Prevention work should be integrated in health services, various community activities, in the work of different sectors and in national policies.
Intervention at the level of the family and community is essential for prevention because the causal risk factors are deeply entrenched in the social and cultural framework of the society.
Intervention on national level is essential, because of strong national trends. Attention should be put on international level because of the increase international and global influences.
Addressing the major risk factors should be given the highest priority in the global strategy for the prevention and control of NCDs. Continuing monitoring of levels and patterns of risk factors is of fundamental importance to planning and evaluating these preventive activities.
