1. Diabetes

Singapore ‘has 2nd-highest proportion of diabetics’

It was reported by The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) that Singapore has the 2nd highest proportion of diabetes among developed nations. 10.53% of people in Singapore aged between 20-79 are estimated to have this chronic disease.
(1 out of 10 people)

According to local doctors, these results are worrying as Singaporeans are being less active, eating more calories diets which increases the risk of diabetes.

“As our nation becomes more developed, our lifestyle also changes,” said Dr Stanley Liew, an endocrinologist at the Raffles Diabetes and Endocrine Centre. “Singaporeans today are more sedentary and consume diets high in calories, just like the Americans.”

Lai, L. (2016, January 19). Singapore ‘has 2nd-highest proportion of diabetics’. Retrieved September 04, 2017, from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-has-2nd-highest-proportion-of-diabetics

 

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2. Cancer

Sharp rise in number diagnosed with cancer

(Experts worry people aren’t making lifestyle changes to avoid preventable cancers)

Each day, 36 people in Singapore are told that they have cancer, marking a worrying rise in the country’s top killer (disease remains the top cause of death in Singapore/ 1 out of 3 people die from cancer)

Cancer cases have jumped by about 17 per cent since 2010, despite certain cancers being preventable if people choose healthier lifestyles and drop bad habits.

Associate Professor Chng Wee Joo, director of the National University Cancer Institute, said: “This trend remains a concern as it means we have not been making much headway in the prevention of cancers.”

Prof Chng said creating greater public awareness and making it more convenient for people to do this is important because current screening programmes are seeing very low take-up rates.

Tai, J. (2016, January 19). Sharp rise in number diagnosed with cancer. Retrieved September 05, 2017, from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/sharp-rise-in-number-diagnosed-with-cancer

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3. Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease (Heart diseases and Stroke)

Every day, 16 people die from cardiovascular disease (heart diseases and stroke) in Singapore. Cardiovascular disease accounted for 29.5% of all deaths in 2016. This means that nearly 1 out of 3 deaths in Singapore, is due to heart diseases or stroke.

 

There seems to be more male victims than female victims.

Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved September 05, 2017, from http://www.myheart.org.sg/article/about-the-heart-and-heart-disease/statistics/singapore/75

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Reflections:

These are 3 common diseases that causes death in Singapore which could be prevented by having a balanced lifestyle (exercise, diet and habits). Everyone is in charge of their own lives and what we could do is to educate and to create public awareness on the prevention of these illnesses. (Just like what associate Professor Chng Wee Joo, director of the National University Cancer Institute has also mentioned above, “This trend remains a concern as it means we have not been making much headway in the prevention of cancers.”)

This means that more has to be done in creating awareness/ education.

Being healthy is also one’s choice, it can’t be forced. We can only remind people on the food they eat/ lifestyle that they have to take to prevent themselves from future sufferings.

Reports has also found out that meat consumptions are also linked to the spread of cancer as the living conditions of farmed animals constantly causes diseases which are treated with antibiotics. So, eating less meat will be one of the steps to prevent getting these illnesses.

The rise of veganism in politics. (2016, October 30). Retrieved September 05, 2017, from https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/man-s-weisskircher/rise-of-veganism-in-politics