The danger of obesity has come in to sharp relief during the past year, with obesity cited as a key COVID-19 comorbidity. A report from Public Health England concluded that a BMI of 35 to 40 (obese) may increase the risk of death from COVID-19 by 40%, while a BMI of over 40 (morbidly obese) could increase the risk by 90%.
On December 3rd this year, during the annual celebration of people with disabilities, the 2020 theme ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ also focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others.
As the world comes together to fight one global pandemic, another still affects millions of people. Globally there are an estimated 38 million people living with HIV – over 100,000 in the UK. More than 35 million people have died of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome) since it was identified in 1984, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
Life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be difficult. It is a progressive condition, there is no cure and everyday tasks can become a challenge. As we head into winter – the deadliest time for people with lung conditions – there is rising concern regarding the dual implications of contracting COVID-19 and the acknowledged backlog in basic care that has occurred over recent months.
One in ten people are living with diabetes, a fact that has been highlighted this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. While age is by far the biggest baseline risk for COVID-19, people with diabetes have been found to be more at risk of dying that others: individuals with Type 1 diabetes have three and a half times the risk, and those with Type 2, twice the risk.
It is time to shave off those lockdown beards and grow the now familiar ‘November Mo’. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men. The charity raises awareness and money for men’s mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, with the aim of reducing the number of men dying prematurely by 25% before 2030.
Evidence regarding the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health continues to grow, with more than two-thirds of adults in the UK (69%) feeling somewhat or very worried about the effect Covid-19 is having on their life. With many vulnerable individuals now facing potentially months shielding at home to protect against the second wave, fears regarding a rise in depression, loneliness and anxiety are rising.
Time for Population Health and Individual Screening to Combine to Address Rising Stroke Events
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death on the planet. An umbrella term for conditions that affect a person’s heart or circulation, it has many causes: from obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, to stress, smoking, air pollution, and rare and neglected conditions such as Chagas Disease and cardiac amyloidosis.