Introduction

Non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer and diabetes account for more than 60 percent of all deaths from NCDs. In Kenya, this means that health care practitioners have a big role to play in helping citizens manage their risk factors for these diseases: controlling blood pressure and cholesterol; quitting smoking; reducing obesity; maintaining proper diet and exercise; following recommended screening guidelines for CVD risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus among others.

Why Screen for NCDs?

In the 21st century, many people have access to medical care. But there are still millions of people around the world who do not. And even for those who do have access, it is often difficult to get a diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

This can be especially true for people living in developing countries where resources are limited or when infrastructure is poor. This is why screening programs are needed: they help identify those at risk so they can get the treatment they need before these diseases become chronic conditions that require lifelong care.

Definition of NCDs

A non-communicable disease is one that is not infectious or contagious. For example, cancer is a non-communicable disease because it can only be passed on via a genetic mutation in the cells of an individual. Examples of non-communicable diseases include:

• Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke
• Diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by smoking or exposure to other harmful gases
• Cancer

What is CVD?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term for diseases of the heart and circulatory system. It includes coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and high blood pressure. CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide.

What are the risk factors for CVD?

• Age
• Gender
• Family history: A family history of heart disease is a risk factor for CVD.
• Ethnicity: African American and Hispanic populations have higher rates of CVD than whites. This may be due in part to the high prevalence of diabetes and obesity, which are both risk factors for CVD. People with a genetic predisposition to diabetes may be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

How to prevent CVD?

• Losing weight
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a healthy diet
• Stop smoking
• Reduce alcohol consumption

Health screening program for NCDs

Health screening program for NCDs is important. Screening for NCDs is not expensive, easy and can be done by yourself or with your family members.

Blood pressure measurement

Blood pressure should be measured at least once a year. Ideally, it should be measured more frequently, particularly if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or are being treated for it.

It is recommended that blood pressures are taken in both arms to measure the average of two readings. A reliable measurement can only be obtained when the person being tested remains still and quiet during this process. It is important that you do not exercise or smoke for 30 minutes prior to measuring your blood pressure and take any medication that may affect its reading at least 1 hour before having it taken.

Blood pressures are generally lower in the morning than they are later on in the day; therefore, it is best to measure your blood pressure after waking up but before breakfast and again several hours later if possible

Blood cholesterol measurement

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in all the cells of the body. It is a necessary part of every cell and plays an important role in many bodily functions, such as making cell membranes, hormones and vitamin D.

The liver makes most of the cholesterol in your blood. Foods that contain cholesterol do not increase your blood cholesterol level because they are digested and absorbed before reaching the bloodstream. The main sources of dietary cholesterol come from eggs (1 large egg contains about 186 mg), organ meats such as liver and kidneys (about 110 mg per 3 ounces), shellfish (3 ounces shrimp contains about 80 mg), meats containing visible fat (76 mg per 3-ounce serving) or ground meat products containing 10% fat or more (3 ounces ground beef contains about 57 mg).

Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol may lead to atherosclerosis—a thickening of artery walls caused by plaque build-up over time—which can result in coronary artery disease, heart attack or stroke

Fasting blood sugar measurement

Fasting blood sugar is the amount of glucose in your blood after you have not eaten for at least eight hours. It’s one way to screen for diabetes. Your health care provider may ask you to fast before getting a fasting blood sugar test. This means you don’t eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before the test.

To take a fasting blood sugar test, the health care provider will insert a needle into a vein on your forearm or hand and draw some blood samples from it. The sample is sent to an office lab where it is analyzed.

Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. To calculate your BMI:

• Take your weight in pounds, divide by your height in inches, and then multiply by 703. (For example, if you weigh 180 lbs., divide 180 by 48 [your height], which equals 3.3.)
• Use this formula to find out what your BMI is: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. For example, if you weigh 79 kgs., divide 79 by 1.6 [your height], which equals 472.”

As much as possible, know your risk on acquiring NCDs

• Know your risk. As much as possible, know your risk on acquiring NCDs. This can be done by knowing your family history and lifestyle, environment, diet and stress level.
• Familial predisposition to certain conditions may indicate that you are more susceptible to getting those diseases. For example, if you have relatives who have high blood pressure or diabetes and they did not manage it well; then there is a possibility that you might develop these conditions too.
• If you smoke and drink alcohol excessively then this puts you at an increased risk of developing NCDs such as stroke and heart disease in the future.
• If you have diabetes or hypertension in the family then this increases your chances of contracting these diseases yourself at some point in time since they run in families.* Your eating habits affect whether or not you will get a non communicable disease (NCD). You need to eat healthy food so that it does not cause any complications later on in life when trying to fight off infections from germs which could attack healthy cells causing cancerous growths called tumors which grow outwards until they reach their limits before dying off completely leaving behind nothing but scar tissue where once lived vibrant tissue made up entirely out of cells which were once perfectly healthy but now dead meaning no longer able to function properly due lack thereof activity due death meaning unable perform functions needed most urgently such as breathing normally without difficulty because no longer alive enough still left alive after having been killed certain cells previously having died earlier due killing them first causing death even though originally still alive vital organs needed functioning well enough

Conclusion

If you have any of these risk factors, then it is important to know your status. For example, if you are overweight or obese and have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, then you should try to reduce these risks by losing weight and eating a healthy diet. The health screening program for non-communicable diseases will help people recognize their risk on acquiring these conditions so they can take steps to prevent them before it’s too late!