World Health Organization Statistics Report

The World Health Organization (WHO) is gathering from May 19-24 to present their annual global health report. On Tuesday, global health trends were discussed and analyzed. Heart disease, obesity, and tobacco use were found to be among the leading causes of deaths worldwide.

The report, World Health Statistics 2008, is derived from information and research from 193 member states. The annual reports are considered the leader and authority on world health trends. Non-communicable diseases have now replaced transferable diseases as the leading global killers. This year, during the 61^st session, the World Health Statistics report reflects a global increase in non-communicable diseases. These diseases, now considered the leading killers worldwide, consist of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. In the past, transferable diseases such as HIV/AIDS were considered the highest culprits of death around the world. The World Health Organizations 2008 report, presented in Geneva, predicted an increase in this growing health trend well beyond 2030.

The report showed a increase in obesity on a worldwide level, once an American epidemic. These increases are leading to higher cases of diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, even in the poorest of countries. The single most preventable cause of death world wide, the report stated, is tobacco use. Tobacco use has been found to kill one-third to one-half of its users. Among the numerous tobacco related deaths, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was found to cause over 5 million deaths globally in 2004.The World Health Organization found that 80% of the projected tobacco related deaths by 2030 will be in poor developing countries. By 2030, The World Health Statistics report finds, 30% of all deaths worldwide will be related to cancer, cardiovascular diseases and traffic accidents.

In 1997, the World Health Organizations press kit predicted an increase in heart disease and strokes. These increases were to account for the leading causes of death in richer countries such as the United States. In addition, the 1997 report predicted that by 2025 the world would see an increase in diabetes (more than doubling) and that there would be a significant rise in mental disorders, especially dementias.

To effectively change this global trend, the World Health Organization advises an increase in proper health nutrition education. In addition, health care on a global platform needs to address the growing trends and invest in preventative programs. A strong focus is advised on the youth worldwide, changes in eating habits, anti-tobacco programs, an increases in activity and exercise programs would be a strong long term investment. Health care reform is desperately needed worldwide. The Wold Health Statistics report also finds that global changes may cause increases in health trends. Among other contributing factors, poorer food availability and climates that encourage bacteria and virus production may causes global increases in illnesses and deaths.

In the United State lung, cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths. An estimated 90% of the lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking. In 2003, more than 157,200 Americans died from lung cancer.

According to the Weight Control Information Network, 133.6 million American adults are overweight or obese. In addition, approximately 17.5% of children (age 6 to 11) and 17% of adolescents (age 12 to 19) were overweight between 2001 to 2004.Heart Disease is the leading killer in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, 80,700,000 people in the U.S. had some form of cardiovascular disease in 2005. In 2004, 1 in every 2.8 deaths in the U.S. was attributed to heart disease and over 148,000 of those deaths were in Americans under the age of 65. Since 2005, heart disease has seen small decreases, however the decreases have not been enough to signify any real national change.

The World Health Organization is a coordinating and health authoritative system within the United Nations. The Organization shares health trend information, collaborates on treatment and research, and provides policy and technical support worldwide. The WHO mission statement states, "In the 21st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defense against transnational threats." For more information on obesity in the United States, you can visit the Obesity Society.

For more information on heart disease and other non-communicable diseases in the U.S. and worldwide, visit the American Heart Association or the CDC.