This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Lifestyle illnesses costing NHS £11bn, PHE warns
Public Health England (PHE) has outlined that health problems relating to poor diet, drinking and smoking, is costing the NHS in England over £11 billion per year.
The group has warned that unless lifestyle associated illnesses are tackled more effectively the NHS will soon become unsustainable, with conditions like diabetes and smoking-related bronchitis emerging as untreatable epidemics.
Dr Rebecca Wagstaff of PHE explained: “When you look back to Victorian times, we worried about things like diphtheria and polio, and we've actually managed to conquer those now. The new threats are things like diabetes and chronic bronchitis. They could overwhelm us."
"They are illnesses for which there is no cure, and they cost the NHS more than £11 billion each year. That's a phenomenal amount of money and more than that, it is taking years off people's lives."
In other news, Fleetwood in Lancashire has published plan to tackle the rise of lifestyle related illnesses. Figures from PHE show that on average people living in Fleetwood die younger compared to the rest of England, with illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, lung and heart disease claiming lives at a rapid rate.
The Willow Garden Project will involve educating children in primary schools about food and diet, working with local sports clubs to encourage people to get active, and creating more open green spaces in the town.
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