It is estimated that 34 percent of deaths and 31 percent of the disease burden in the country are due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD).

An estimated 86,200 persons die annually with nearly 55.5 percent of the dead being less than 70 years and 58 percent being males.

According to statistics available to the Ghana Health  Service (GHS), NCDs’ death rate in the country stood at 817 per 100,000 for males and 595 per 100,000 for females.

Based on this, step up business school engaged three doctors from the Korlebu Teaching Hospital on how to prevent common lifestyle diseases.

Dr. D.N Addotey described lifestyle diseases as diseases that a person comes in contact with as he or she lives a normal daily life. He further explained that the things people do, the kind of food they eat, their environment,  and genetic background are some factors that bring out these diseases.

Dr. Addotey stated that these lifestyle diseases are largely by behavior adding that they are non-communicable health diseases. He stated this on Smart Business Talk a program powered by Step Up Business School on Sweet Melodies 94.3 Fm.

 

Dr. Eyra A Nyadodui identified two diseases out of the many lifestyle diseases. They include

* cardiovascular disease: she explained that this disease accounts for about 17.7 million death every year. Examples of such disease she said are heart attack and stroke.

* Cancer: she said 8.8 million cancer deaths are recorded every year. Dr. Eyra explained Cancer as the creation of abnormal cells in any part of the body that can invade another part of the body. She mentioned lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer as some examples of cancer.

 

Dr. Aaron Amartey urged all and sundry to go for regular check-ups in order to know the state of their health and also undertake regular health screening exercises organized by some hospitals. He advised against the intake of too much salt,  illegal drugs, use of tobacco, second-hand smoking, and excessive drinking of alcohol.