Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Preventable health conditions are illnesses, diseases or health issues that can often be avoided through lifestyle changes, environmental improvements, vaccination or early detection.
Most types of medicine focus on treating an illness or injury, rather than keeping it from happening. But preventive medicine stops sickness before it starts. Prevention aims to reduce the risk of future issues, often at a societal level, while treatment provides help to those already experiencing a problem. Unfortunately, the real value of prevention is overseen by many authorities and governments.
Diseases are usually named after the organ or bodily system that is affected for practical purposes. However, the underlying biological mechanism by which different organs get affected can be similar. For example, when a blood clot blocks off the blood supply to the heart, it is called a heart attack. When the same thing happens in the brain, it is traditionally called a stroke (and recently as a brain attack) but the mechanism is just the same. It would be difficult for a non-medical professional to understand disease causing mechanisms (pathogenesis) such as atherosclerosis, degeneration, metabolic disease, which are usually complex and interconnected. Therefore, strategies in preventing diseases are described.
Many different diseases share similar risk factors because of the complex interplay between genes, gene expression, environment, and lifestyle choices. These factors, when present, can increase the likelihood of developing a variety of health conditions. However, many of the risk factors are modifiable, meaning that changes in behaviour and medical treatments can reduce the risk of developing important chronic health conditions. Smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, social inequality, and unhealthy diets are risk factors for a variety of chronic conditions.
Several risk factors are commonly associated with multiple chronic illnesses. These include behavioural factors like smoking, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Biomedical factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal blood lipid levels also play a significant role.
A chronic disease is a condition that persists for a long time, often a year or more. It’s characterized by ongoing symptoms that may worsen over time. While some chronic conditions can be managed effectively, many don’t have a cure. They can significantly impact an individual’s daily activities, relationships, and overall quality of life. Examples include arthritis, asthma, cancer, heart disease and some cancers.
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