Today, the leading cause of death worldwide is chronic disease. Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases kill millions of people each year and many times they are preventable. It is estimated that about 338 million will die of chronic diseases in the next ten years. Although this number is staggering, there are things that you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

The first thing to do is stop smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of cancer and can cause other problems such as emphysema, chronic lung problems, and heart disease. Even second hand smoke can cause problems-those who are subjected to it for a period of time are more likely to develop and die from heart problems and lung cancer. Another way to cut your risk of chronic disease is to avoid alcohol or drink it in moderation. Drinking alcohol regularly can lead to chronic liver disease and other health problems. The next thing change to make in your life is to eat healthy. A poor diet can lead to many health problems, one of the main ones being diabetes. Even those that already have this disease can minimize the effects by following a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Highly processed foods and sugar should be avoided as much as possible. Lastly, exercising almost every day can reduce your risk of chronic diseases up to 50%! The power of exercise should not be under estimated- it prevents heart disease, high blood pressure, cancers, and diabetes.

By making healthy choices today you can lower your chances of acquiring a chronic disease. About 80% of premature heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, and up to 40 per cent of cancers, are preventable through leading healthy lifestyles.