47% of Spaniards recognize that they are sedentary, which places our country as one of the most inactive in Europe.
El lifestyle that we carry is the factor that determines our health, with a specific weight of 43%, followed by genetic inheritance (27%), the environment or environment in which one lives (19%) and the health system (11%). They are the data collected by the Book of the "Salud" of the BBVA Foundation and the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. In it, it is striking that diseases that occupy the first positions in mortality can, in part, be prevented with healthy daily habits.
Deadly and preventable.
If we look at the main causes of mortality, the work highlights diseases of the circulatory system (33%) and tumors (27%), followed by diseases of the respiratory system (10,5%). It also draws attention to domestic accidents, responsible for one death every five minutes in EU countries and which are the leading cause of mortality among those under 35 years of age.
If we add to this the chronic or long-standing health problems diagnosed by doctors more frequently, we have osteoarthritis and rheumatic problems (21,3%), high blood pressure (20,7%), high cholesterol ( 16,1%) and allergies (12,3%), according to the latest data from the National Health Survey.
Now, when these professionals analyze lifestyle habits and risk factors associated with these ailments, they warn us: certain risk factors associated with diseases such as cardiovascular disease or cancer are modifiable, including excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, and obesity or high-fat, low-fiber diets.
Are we aware of it?
If we are, we don't pay attention to medical advice, judging from the data. The specialists offer in the book recommendations on healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise and a healthy diet.
Do we exercise and watch our diet?
If we look at the figures, 47% of Spaniards recognize that they are sedentary, one of the highest percentages compared to neighboring countries. In addition, Spain has 15% obese men and women, and the trend is upward, which leads it to occupy an intermediate position among the EU countries. This increase in the proportion of obese individuals is higher in men and in the age group over 65 years.
Smoking, the world's leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths.
The data is alarming: cigarettes are responsible for 30% of all cancer cases. Thus, the death rate of people who smoke triples that of non-smokers.
Let's go to the figures. In Spain, 34% of Spaniards over 16 years old smoke, that is, about 12 million people, according to the latest National Health Survey. One of the highest percentages in our continent. If half of the world's smokers made the gesture of permanently putting out their cigarettes, they would avoid 30 million deaths in the world in the next 25 years.
On deaf ears
Every so often, this type of study by healthcare professionals finds its echo in the media. In fact, more and more, these investigations are disseminated by blogs such as that of Nectar Health Insurance, which contribute to awareness of health problems that could be improved with easily accessible changes in each person's day.
In these studies, they alert us with objective data and practical advice of the damages of many of our daily habits and of prevention as the best weapon to avoid death and increase our quality of life. However, judging by the numbers, medical advice and evidence seem to fall on deaf ears.
In this case, in the Health Book, health professionals respond in accessible language through 1.500 questions to health questions in aspects ranging from healthy habits and prevention to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of diseases . The work aims to bring the most current medical knowledge to citizens and help them better understand some concepts and common terms in their relationship with health professionals.