Last week we had two press events that dealt with health matters.
More specifically, the first press conference was to launch a campaign to create greater awareness about melanoma and the second event was held to inform the public about stroke.
Statistics were given in both cases. It was said that 264 new cases of melanoma were reported between 1993 and 2003; the incidence in men rose by 116 per cent and that of women by 16 per cent when one compares the first five years of this block to the second.
The overall absolute five-year survival rate went up from 74 per cent between 1993 and 1998 to 92 per cent between 1998 and 2002.
The annual average number of deaths from cerebrovascular diseases between 2001 and 2004 is 325, 141 men and 184 women. During the past five years, an average of 216 men and 179 women were admitted to hospital to receive treatment for stroke.
The common denominator between these press conferences is the stress placed on the precautions that one could take to limit the risk of melanoma and stroke.
For example, in the case of melanoma, the wearing of hats as well as sunglasses and the application of sunblocks are recommended. Whenever the UV index is higher than five – and during summer it is many times double that – people should stay indoors between 11am and 4pm.
This might be a hard thing to do in summer, when most people go to the beach during those hours. But, on the other hand, one must remember that taking such a precaution will increase the possibility of living a longer and healthier life.
The single most common cause of melanoma is exposure to the sun, especially following episodes of sunburn. This is why the less one is exposed to the sun, the less are the chances of melanoma occurring.
Such precautions should not only be taken by people going to the beach. There are many who work long hours in the sun and, therefore, even they must try to avoid exposure as much as possible. If this work must be carried out, sunblocks and the wearing of hats could diminish the risks.
With regard to stroke, it was said that the risk increases in smokers, those who do not do physical exercise, those who do not have a balanced diet and those who drink alcohol excessively.
Again, by quitting cigarettes, going for a 30-minute brisk walk and eating fruit as well as vegetables will reduce the risk of a stroke.
There are still too many smokers in Malta, although it must be said that the recent campaign on the harm of smoking have slightly improved the situation. The fact that smoking has been prohibited in all closed public places has also had its effect.
When it comes to exercise, however, it must be said that there is a large sector of the population that has still to understand its importance. It could be that, with such a stressful life, little time is left and most of it is spent relaxing in front of the television or at the computer. Still, with some effort, everyone can fit in 30 minutes of exercise which, after all, is of benefit both physically and even psychologically.
We must, as a nation, also work hard to change our diet. Again, it all boils down to our hectic lifestyle, which leaves little time in which to prepare healthy food. But we should all make it a point to move away from unhealthy foods as much as possible.
Living a healthy life and taking precautionary measures will help reduce the risk of melanoma as well as stroke, and a host of other diseases that could cut lives short.