Combatting the threat of rising NCDs in Nepal

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, refer to a group of conditions that are not mainly caused by an acute infection, have long-term health implications, and often create a need for long-term treatment and care. These diseases, including but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors.

NCDs are usually linked to aging, but they are slowly and surely taking an unexpected turn. It is becoming a significant worldwide health concern affecting people at younger ages increasingly. Research indicates that NCDs cause 41 million deaths each year, or 74 percent of all fatalities worldwide, with 17 million of those deaths occurring in individuals under the age of 70. They are also predicted to be responsible for one in every two disability-affected life years and one in every five deaths among adolescents worldwide.