Latest news with #GlobalBurdenofDisease
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
World No Tobacco Day 2025: Top 10 largest tobacco-producing countries; see India's rank
Largest Tobacco Producing Countries: Tobacco use remains one of the gravest public health threats the world has ever faced, claiming over eight million lives annually. Of these, more than seven million deaths result from direct tobacco use, according to the Global Burden of Disease study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Despite widespread awareness of its health risks, the raw tobacco industry continues to thrive. In 2022, an estimated 5.8 million tonnes of tobacco were produced globally, with China accounting for roughly one-third of this output, according to Statista. However, smoking is reported to be relatively occasional in China – 42 per cent of respondents in a Statista Consumer Insights survey said they smoked only occasionally, followed by similar trends in Germany, Spain, and the United States of America. In the same year, India and Brazil produced approximately 0.8 million and 0.7 million tonnes of unmanufactured tobacco respectively, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). To raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and advocate for effective control policies that encourage consumers to quit, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World No Tobacco Day every year on May 31. The theme for 2025 is 'Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,' calling on governments to shield youth from aggressive tobacco marketing and reduce future addiction rates. Candy-coated lies…enticing new users & keeping existing ones hooked. The tobacco & nicotine industries target people of all ages with products and designs tailored to different groups while deliberately preying on youth. The manipulation stops here. #TobaccoExposed Ahead of… — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 30, 2025 Source: United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAOSTAT) India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of unmanufactured tobacco, with a production volume of nearly 770,000 tonnes. Despite extensive public health campaigns, tobacco use continues to be a major cause of disease and death, contributing to an estimated 1.35 million deaths annually, as per the WHO. Tobacco products remain widely accessible and affordable in the country. Smokeless tobacco, including khaini, gutkha, and betel quid, is the most common form of tobacco consumption in India. A Statista Consumer Insights survey conducted between January and December 2023 found that around 36 per cent of urban Indian respondents reported smoking cigarettes at least occasionally, highlighting the prevalence of smoking habits in urban areas. In observance of World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2025, students of Prerana Batch 52 come together with a message urging all to reject tobacco and its related products. Their collective voice expressed not only through words but also through a collaborative effort, reflects… — Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) May 30, 2025 Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at ... Read More
New York Post
a day ago
- Health
- New York Post
Doctors warn of ‘big and concerning rise' of alcohol-related cancer deaths in the US — who's been hit worst
A shocking new study finds the number of alcohol-related deaths in the US has nearly doubled in the last two decades. This is the first study to look at long-term trends in alcohol-linked cancer deaths across the country and was led by a team from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. But not every demographic has been hit equally. Advertisement 4 Earlier this year, the former US Surgeon General issued an advisory cautioning Americans of the strong link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk for 'at least seven types of cancer,' including breast, colon, and liver. maeching – Alcohol — classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer — is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. Earlier this year, the former US Surgeon General, calling for a warning label to be placed on alcoholic products, issued an advisory cautioning Americans of the strong link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk for 'at least seven types of cancer,' including breast, colon and liver. In this new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease database to understand how alcohol use contributes to cancer-related deaths. Advertisement Their research revealed that in the U.S. between 1990 and 2021, the total number of alcohol-related cancer deaths nearly doubled, from just under 12,000 deaths per year to just over 23,000. 'That's a big and concerning rise. We need to increase awareness of this link among the general population and even in the medical field,' said Sylvester hematology and oncology fellow Dr. Chinmay Jani, who led the study. Jani noted that while there is widespread awareness about the relationship between tobacco and increased cancer risk, there is less recognition of the link between alcohol and cancer. Advertisement A 2024 report by the American Association for Cancer Research found that while more than 5% of all cancer cases are caused by drinking alcohol, 51% of Americans are not aware that alcohol increases cancer risk. 4 Liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers saw the most significant increases in alcohol-related mortality. Nadzeya – Researchers reviewed total cancer deaths, as well as those linked to alcohol consumption: breast, liver, colorectal, throat, voice box, mouth, and esophageal cancers. Advertisement Jani and his team found that the cancer mortality burden was especially high in men 55 and over, whose alcohol-linked cancer mortality rose slightly more than 1% every year from 2007 to 2021. The increase in alcohol-related cancer mortality rates is owed nearly entirely to an increase among men. In women, rates have actually slightly declined since 1990. However, even for cancers with declining mortality rates, the proportion caused by alcohol for nearly all of them rose between 1990 and 2021, for both men and women. Among all cancers combined, the percentage of cancer deaths due to alcohol consumption increased by nearly 50% between 1990 and 2021, meaning even if factors like improved screening and treatment are reducing cancer deaths, alcohol consumption is responsible for a larger percentage of cancer mortality than in the past. 4 There are a few ways that drinking can contribute to an increased likelihood of developing cancer. HHS Liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers saw the most significant increases in alcohol-related mortality. On a state level, Texas and the District of Columbia had the highest rates of alcohol-linked cancer mortality, while Utah had the lowest. Advertisement Researchers think these differences could reflect regional differences in drinking cultures, as well as socioeconomic disparity and variances in health access. According to the Surgeon General, alcohol is responsible for 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths in the country each year. 1 in 6 breast cancer cases can be attributed to alcohol. There are a few ways that drinking can contribute to an increased likelihood of developing cancer. Advertisement 4 Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that alcohol causes cancer earlier this year. Getty Images One is acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen that the body creates when it breaks down the ethanol in alcohol. This compound damages DNA and prevents cells from repairing the damage, allowing cancerous cells to grow. It can also impact hormones, which affect how cells grow and divide. When that goes wrong, there's room for cancer to develop. Moreover, drinking interferes with the body's ability to absorb nutrients like iron, selenium, folate, and vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, E, and K. Excess alcohol intake can contribute to weight gain, and being overweight or obese has been linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer, including those in the breasts, liver, ovaries, kidneys, thyroid, and colon and rectum. Advertisement 'We hope that our study will help educate the public on the impact of alcohol on individual cancer risk, as this is a potentially modifiable factor,' said Gilberto Lopes, M.D., Sylvester's chief of the Division of Medical Oncology and the study's senior author. In addition to reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, experts recommend other modifiable factors such as quitting tobacco, eating more green, leafy vegetables and whole grains, reducing or eliminating highly processed foods, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active, all of which can lower cancer risk. For those who choose to consume alcohol, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests limiting intake to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Mental disorders significantly impact youth aged 10-14 in Singapore: Lancet study
The rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people in Singapore. ST FILE PHOTO SINGAPORE - Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability and death among 10- to 14-year-olds in Singapore, while the impact of mental distress on population health here is the highest in Asean , according to a new paper published in medical journal Lancet Public Health on May 28. In 2021, the prevalence of mental disorders here was estimated at 12.8 per cent among males and 11.7 per cent among females. Altogether, 653,000 diagnoses of mental disorders were made in Singapore that year, including among those above 70 years of age, an age group that experienced a threefold rise from 1990 in the number of cases. Anxiety and depression, triggered in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic, were the most common disorders, affecting approximately 185,000 and 144,000 individuals, respectively, the paper said. The paper was among four studies examining – for the first time – Asean's public health crisis in mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, smoking and injuries. They are part of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a large-scale effort examining health trends worldwide. The series of papers is the first joint research collaboration between NUS' Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which leads the GBD study. Explaining the mental health burden on adolescents and the population here, lead author Marie Ng, an associate professor at NUS Medicine and affiliate associate professor at IHME, said the rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people. In addition, there are the shifts in the social fabric, including family breakdowns and social isolation, which are becoming more common in developed and Westernised societies, she said. On the other end of the spectrum, as the population ages rapidly and people live longer, the number of older adults with mental disorders has also risen. 'Mental and physical health are closely connected; with weakening physical health, depression is common among the elderly as Singapore's population ages,' Prof Ng said. The pandemic also triggered increased feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and isolation across all age groups. At the same time, however, improved public awareness and decreasing stigma have led to more people recognising symptoms and seeking help, she added. Professor Alina Rodriguez from the psychological medicine department at NUS Medicine, a collaborator on the paper on mental health, said the data reinforces what is seen at schools. Clinically, mental health challenges often emerge early in life and, if unaddressed, can lead to years of lost potential. Asean had an estimated 80.4 million cases of mental disorders in 2021, reflecting an increase of approximately 70 per cent since 1990, and anxiety disorders were the region's most common mental disorder. The actual number does not reflect the true need, as many would be borderline cases, and stigma prevents people from seeking care, said Prof Rodriguez. Meanwhile, self-harm was the leading cause of injury deaths in Singapore, accounting for 47 per cent of all injury deaths, with the highest incidence rate seen among youth aged 20 to 24. Mental disorders are a major contributor. More incidents of self-harm occurred among females in Singapore than males in 2021. The incidence in Singapore was lower, however, than the rates in neighbouring high-income Asian countries Japan and South Korea. Falls were the second-leading cause of injury death after self-harm, accounting for 22 per cent of all deaths from injury here. In the region, the largest number of injury deaths was attributed to road injuries, followed by falls, self-harm, drowning and interpersonal violence. Self-harm was among the top three leading causes of injury-related mortality in Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam. As for cardiovascular diseases, Singapore had the lowest prevalence and mortality in the Asean region, and outperformed trends in global and high-income countries in the reduction of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, cardiovascular diseases are still a major population health issue here, given the ageing population and rising risk factors. It is the second-leading cause of death in Singapore, and the number of cases has increased by nearly 200 per cent in the last 30 years. In 2021, more than 385,000 people in Singapore were affected by cardiovascular diseases. The top five risk factors were high blood pressure, dietary risks (for example, high sodium, low fibre, low fruit), high LDL cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose and tobacco use. Obesity is the fastest-growing risk factor. In Singapore, the smoking prevalence among males aged 15 and above was 20.2 per cent, significantly lower than the Asean average of 48.4 per cent. Among females, smoking prevalence stood at 6.56 per cent, which is higher than the regional female average of 4.47 per cent, and ranked the fourth-highest in the region. 'The findings present a nuanced picture of Singapore's health progress. While we've made remarkable strides in areas like cardiovascular care and tobacco control, the growing burden of mental health conditions and injuries, particularly self-harm and falls, calls for urgent and sustained attention,' said Prof Ng. Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Online Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- Online Citizen
Mental disorders now Singapore's top health burden for adolescents, says Lancet study
Mental disorders have emerged as the primary cause of disability and death among children aged 10 to 14 in Singapore, according to a new study published by Lancet Public Health on 28 May. The study, part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 series, shows that the impact of mental distress on overall population health in Singapore is the highest in Southeast Asia. The report estimated that in 2021, mental disorders affected 12.8% of males and 11.7% of females in Singapore. That year, a total of 653,000 mental disorder diagnoses were made, including a threefold increase among those aged over 70. The most common conditions were anxiety and depression, affecting approximately 185,000 and 144,000 individuals, respectively. According to the paper, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to this increase, with widespread isolation, uncertainty, and lifestyle disruption exacerbating mental health struggles across age groups. However, greater public awareness and reduced stigma may also have led to more diagnoses and treatment-seeking behaviour. Lead author Associate Professor Marie Ng from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), noted that social media exposure and academic pressures are fuelling mental distress in youths. Shifting family structures and increasing social isolation in modern, urban societies also contribute to worsening mental health outcomes. Among ASEAN nations, Singapore showed a 75.6% rise in the number of mental disorder cases from 1990 to 2021. Although the age-standardised prevalence remained relatively stable over that period, the absolute number of cases rose significantly due to population growth and ageing. Mental disorders were responsible for 9.2% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Singapore in 2021, placing them among the top five causes of disease burden in the country. DALYs measure the overall years lost due to illness, disability, or premature death. The highest burden was observed in adolescents aged 10–14, with mental disorders accounting for 28.2% of all DALYs in this group. Professor Alina Rodriguez from NUS Medicine, a co-author of the paper, highlighted that these findings mirror clinical observations in schools, where mental health issues often emerge early and—if left untreated—can lead to prolonged suffering and lost life potential. The ASEAN-wide study, involving researchers from ten member states, revealed that the region experienced a 70% increase in mental disorder cases since 1990, with a total of 80.4 million cases in 2021. Anxiety disorders were most common, followed by depressive disorders. The burden was especially high among women and young people, but significant growth was also seen among the elderly. Singapore's rapidly ageing population has contributed to rising elderly mental health cases. With advancing age and worsening physical health, older adults often face depression, reinforcing the need to integrate mental and physical care services for this group. Self-harm, another major concern, accounted for 47% of all injury-related deaths in Singapore, especially among individuals aged 20 to 24. While the rate of self-harm is lower than in Japan and South Korea, the trend is alarming, particularly due to its disproportionate impact on young women. Falls were the second leading cause of injury death in Singapore, responsible for 22% of such deaths. Regionally, road injuries topped the list, followed by falls, self-harm, drowning, and interpersonal violence. Despite improvements in cardiovascular care and low smoking rates—Singapore has the lowest prevalence and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in ASEAN—the city-state faces critical challenges in mental health. Cardiovascular diseases, however, still represent the second leading cause of death in Singapore, with more than 385,000 affected in 2021. The paper underscores the need for urgent, sustained policy attention to mental health, especially among youths and the elderly. It calls for multisectoral interventions, improved mental health literacy, and the development of comprehensive, community-based support systems. As ASEAN moves toward its post-2025 health development agenda, this study emphasises that mental health must be prioritised. The authors recommend regional cooperation, investment in mental health infrastructure, and culturally adapted public education to address growing needs. Support services for mental well-being in Singapore If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, support is available. Below is a list of helplines and counselling services in Singapore that offer assistance across a range of needs. 24-hour mental health helplines Institute of Mental Health (IMH) – Mental Health Helpline: 6389 2222 Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) – 24-hour support: 1-767 or 9151 1767 (CareText via WhatsApp) General mental health support Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) : 1800 283 7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore : 6386 1928 CHAT (Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health) : 6493 6500 / 6493 6501 Women's Helpline (Aware) – For women in need: 1800 777 5555 (Weekdays, 10am–6pm) Counselling services Touchline (Touch Community Services) – General counselling: 1800 377 2252 Touch Care Line – For caregivers: 6804 6555 Counselling and Care Centre : 6536 6366 We Care Community Services – Specialising in addiction recovery and support: 3165 8017 Clarity Singapore – Mental health support grounded in Catholic values: 6757 7990
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Lancet study shows mental disorders significantly impact youth aged 10-14 in Singapore
The rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people in Singapore. ST FILE PHOTO SINGAPORE - Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability and death among 10 to 14-year-olds in Singapore , while the impact of mental distress on population health here is the highest in Asean , according to a new paper published in the medical journal Lancet Public Health on May 28. In 2021, the prevalence of mental disorders here was estimated at 12.8 per cent among males and 11.7 per cent among females. Altogether , 653,000 diagnoses of mental disorders were made in Singapore that year, including among those more than 70 years of age, an age group that experienced a three-fold rise in the number of cases. Anxiety and depression , triggered in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic , were the most common disorders , affecting approximately 185,000 and 144,000 individuals respectively, it said. The paper was among four studies examining, for the first time, Asean's public health crisis in mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and injuries. They are part of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a large-scale effort examining health trends worldwide. The series of papers is the first joint research collaboration between Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which leads the GBD study. Explaining the mental health burden on adolescents and the population here, lead author Marie Ng, Associate Professor, NUS Medicine, and Affiliate Associate Professor at IHME, said the rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people. In addition, there are the shifts in the social fabric, including family breakdowns and social isolation, which are becoming more common in developed and Westernised societies, she said. On the other end of the spectrum, as the population ages rapidly and people live longer, the number of older adults with mental disorders has also risen . 'Mental and physical health are closely connected; with weakening physical health, depression is common among the elderly as Singapore's population ages,' she said. The pandemic also triggered increased feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and isolation across all age groups. At the same time, however, improved public awareness and decreasing stigma have led to more people recognising symptoms and seeking help, Prof Ng added. Professor Alina Rodriguez from the psychological medicine department at NUS Medicine, a collaborator on the paper on mental health, said the data reinforces what they see at schools. Clinically, mental health challenges often emerge early in life and, if unaddressed, can lead to years of lost potential. Asean had an estimated 80.4 million cases of mental disorders in 2021, reflecting an increase of approximately 70 per cent since 1990, and anxiety disorders were the region's most common mental disorder. The actual number does not reflect the true need, as many would be borderline cases, and stigma prevents people from seeking care, said Prof Rodriguez. Meanwhile, self-harm was a leading cause of injury deaths in Singapore, accounting for 47 per cent of all injury deaths, with the highest incidence rate seen among youth aged 20 to 24 years. Mental disorders are a major contributor. More incidents of self-harm occurred among females in Singapore than males in 2021. The incidence in Singapore was lower, however, than the rates in neighbouring high-income Asian countries Japan and South Korea. Falls were the second leading cause of injury death after self-harm, accounting for 22 per cent of all deaths from injury here. In the region, the largest number of injury deaths was attributed to road injuries, followed by falls, self-harm, drowning and interpersonal violence. Self-harm was among the top three leading causes of injury-related mortality in Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, and Vietnam. As for cardiovascular diseases, Singapore had the lowest prevalence and mortality in the Asean region, and outperformed trends in global and high-income countries in the reduction of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, cardiovascular diseases are still a major population health issue here, given the ageing population and rising risk factors. It is the second leading cause of death in Singapore, and the number of cases has increased by nearly 200 per cent in the last 30 years. In 2021, over 385,000 people in Singapore were affected by cardiovascular diseases. The top five risk factors were high blood pressure, dietary risks (e.g., high sodium, low fiber, low fruit), high LDL cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose, and tobacco use. Obesity is the fastest growing risk factor. In Singapore, the smoking prevalence among males aged 15 and above was 20.2 per cent, significantly lower than the Asean average of 48.4 per cent. Among females, smoking prevalence stood at 6.56 per cent, which is higher than the regional female average of 4.47 per cent, and ranked the fourth highest in the region. 'The findings present a nuanced picture of Singapore's health progress. While we've made remarkable strides in areas like cardiovascular care and tobacco control, the growing burden of mental health conditions and injuries, particularly self-harm and falls, calls for urgent and sustained attention,' said Prof Ng. Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
