Chronic diseases represent a huge proportion of human illness.

They include (as a % of projected total worldwide deaths in 2005):

* cardiovascular disease (30%)
* cancer (13%)
* chronic respiratory diseases (7%)
* diabetes (2%)

Two risk factors underlying these conditions are key to any
population-wide strategy of epidemic control:

* tobacco use
* obesity

These risks and the diseases they engender are not the exclusive
preserve of rich nations. Chronic diseases are a larger problem in low-income
settings.

"The Lancet" has just published a series of articles to fill a gap
in the global dialogue about Chronic diseases, including a call for the world to
set a target to reduce deaths from chronic disease by 2% annually in order to
prevent 36 million deaths by 2015.

RELATED LINKS
-------------

Lancet articles (listed below):
http://www.thelancet.com/collections/series/chronic_diseases

1 Preventing chronic diseases: how many lives can we save?
2 Preventing chronic diseases: taking stepwise action
3 Responding to the threat of chronic diseases in India
4 Preventing chronic diseases in China

Diseases Communicable Between Humans and Animals (Zoonoses):
http://www.sunflower-health.com/reviews/zoonoses.htm

Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism:
http://www.lovehealth.org/info/bioterrorism.htm

Disease Prevention and Treatment - What Wild Animals Teach Us:
http://www.lovehealth.org/books/animal-healing.htm