Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases with an estimated 300 million individuals affected worldwide.
The rate of asthma in children is rising in the United States, especially in preschool-age children and those who live in cities. In people with asthma, the airways to the lungs can shrink in response to a trigger, which causes repeated attacks of wheezing, breathlessness, or chest tightness.
Asthma can be effectively treated, and most people can keep their asthma under control by taking medicine and avoiding triggers in their environment. Some common triggers include smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, respiratory infections, and allergens from pollen, mold, pets, and cockroaches.
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Cancer is caused by the building blocks of the human body, cells, multiplying faster than they should. There are over one hundred different types of cancer, which are named after the specific cells or organs where they begin.
The most common cancers diagnosed in the United States are breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. In men, the most common causes of cancer deaths are lung, prostate, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer. In women, the most common causes of cancer deaths are lung, breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer.
Many common kinds of cancer can be prevented through lifestyle changes:
- Not smoking and reducing your exposure to secondhand smoke
- Not using tanning beds and using clothing and sunscreen to prevent sunburn
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Decreasing the amount of alcohol, you drink
- Getting vaccinated to prevent cancer-causing infections like human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus
Many kinds of cancer can also be caught early through regular screenings such as Pap smears, mammograms, and colonoscopies. Talk to your healthcare provider about what types of screening are right for you.
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Over the past 60 years, the citizens of New York State have seen a dramatic improvement in their oral health. Prevention methods that have proven effective to reduce the risk of disease include community water fluoridation, topical fluoride treatments, dental sealants, routine dental examinations, cavity and oral cancer screenings, and reduction of risk factors like smoking.
Still, oral diseases are a major health concern that affect almost every person in New York State, and many local residents face obstacles to dental care.
Oral health and general health are inseparable. Diseases and conditions of the mouth have a direct impact on the health of the entire body. Good oral health can help improve birth outcomes, keep children from developing painful cavities and prevent seniors and those with chronic health conditions from developing life-threatening complications.
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Diabetes is on the rise in New York State, with over one in ten adults (11.0%) having diabetes according to a 2018 survey.
Diabetes is a common, chronic disease that causes the body’s blood glucose (sugar) levels to be higher than normal. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent and excessive urination, excessive thirst, and weight loss despite increased appetite. People with diabetes may also experience occasional blurred vision; unusual tiredness or drowsiness; frequent or recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections; and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. Over time, having too much glucose in the blood causes damage to nerves and blood vessels, which can lead to stroke, heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and amputations.
Most people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Risk factors for T2D include some things that people cannot change, such as their race, ethnicity, family history, and age. Risk factors that can be changed include being physically active, eating a healthy diet, losing weight if overweight or obese, and managing other chronic conditions.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)
The Diabetes Prevention Program is a proven, evidence-based lifestyle change program designed to help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Over the course of 16 weeks, participants meet with a trained lifestyle coach and a small, supportive group of peers who are also working toward healthier habits. Together, they learn how to make lasting, realistic changes—like eating better, becoming more active, and building problem-solving and coping skills.
This program is designed for adults who have been diagnosed with prediabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Participating in the program can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58%. Small changes really can lead to big results. For more information contact NDPP@orleanscountyny.gov.
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A visit to your health care provider can resolve many health concerns. But, if communication is poor, you may walk away feeling confused and frustrated. In today’s health care environment, preparation and communication are more important than ever. Dissatisfaction often means the patient did not discuss what was most troubling to them with the provider, or their questions were never answered. Although health care providers work hard to give top quality health care, they may not anticipate or recognize the concerns a patient may have. At the same time, patients’ feelings may prevent them from asking questions.
For example, some patients are hesitant to talk about sensitive health topics such as urinary incontinence, prostate problems, sexual dysfunction, sexually transmitted diseases, or gynecological problems. Others may not think their symptoms are important or they may be afraid of wasting the provider’s time or of hearing bad news.
Take the following simple, but effective steps to prepare for a visit to your health care provider:
- Learn as much as you can about your condition.
- Develop and bring with you a list of your symptoms; questions; including any you may think are silly, embarrassing or unimportant; and your family’s medical history. This history, along with a physical examination, is extremely helpful in making a diagnosis.
- Bring all of your medications.
During your visit, ask:
- What are the most likely reasons for my problem(s)? What test(s) do you advise? What are the risks?
- What is the prognosis? That is, will it go away by itself? How long will it last? What are the pros and cons of treatment, or no treatment at all?
- What can be done to prevent complications or recurrences?
At the end of your visit, review your questions and be sure all of your concerns have been addressed. If they have not, insist that your health care provider provide more information.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to several types of disease that involve the heart and blood vessels. CVD includes heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, stroke, heart arrhythmias, and heart valve problems.
The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when a substance called plaque builds up inside and narrows the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The plaque can build up gradually over time, reducing blood supply and oxygen to the heart muscle, or a plaque can rupture suddenly and cause a clot that completely blocks an artery, which is a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and in New York State.
A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in both New York State and the U.S., and a cause of significant disability.
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According to the most recent data available from the New York State Department of Health, nearly 8,000 New Yorkers die each year because of injury, and more than 1.5 million residents visit emergency departments, with more than 155,000 being hospitalized due to injuries. Leading causes of injury deaths in New York State are poisoning (including drug overdose), suicide, fall, motor vehicle crash, and homicide.
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Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in New York State and across the nation, and Genesee and Orleans Counties residents have particularly high rates of the condition. While 29.1% of adults in New York State overall have obesity, 39.8% of Genesee County adults and 48.8% of Orleans County adults have obesity, according to 2021 data published by the NYS Department of Health. Overweight/obesity is also a top personal or family health challenge named by Genesee and Orleans County respondents to recent Community Health Assessment surveys.
Obesity and overweight are currently the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States and may soon overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death. Failing to win the battle against obesity will mean premature death and disability for an increasingly large segment of New York residents. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer.
Preventing or reversing obesity often requires changes in behavior as well as access to affordable, nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places where people live, learn, eat, shop, work and play.
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