Today in our stories, we’ll look at why the death toll from chronic diseases is likely on the rise. Next, is loneliness linked to health issues? And finally, how is olive wastewater a potential health booster? Welcome to Health Channel News.
To start, this report comes from Vox, where health experts are raising concerns about the rise in chronic diseases worldwide. Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease now account for 75% of all deaths globally, and the toll is rising. The situation is especially dire in low- and middle-income countries, which see almost 80% of all deaths from chronic diseases. While countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia can offer advanced treatments, developing nations face severe shortages in care. In 2019, cardiovascular diseases, for example, caused 18 million deaths. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, 537 million adults were living with diabetes in 2021, with 75% of those cases in low- and middle-income countries. Rates are rising particularly fast in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
A global health expert quoted in the article warns that treating chronic diseases is more complex than infectious diseases. Patients with chronic diseases often need years or even decades of care, which is often unavailable in low-income countries, leading to many untreated cases or catastrophic medical debt. Cultural challenges also play a role. For example, in Bangladesh, social stigma around breast cancer screening prevents many women from getting early treatment. Despite this growing crisis, only 2% of global health funding is allocated to chronic diseases. Experts agree that stronger health systems and expanded access to care are urgently needed.
Next, new research is challenging what we thought about loneliness and health. For years, experts believed loneliness could directly cause illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. But now researchers suggest it may not be as simple as that. A study led by a university in China looked at health data from over 476,000 people in the UK, China, and the U.S. They found that loneliness is linked to 30 health conditions. However, after analyzing the data more closely, the researchers discovered something interesting. Most of these conditions don’t seem to be caused by loneliness itself. Instead, they occur alongside it.
According to the article in New Scientist, loneliness plays a role in mental health problems such as depression and substance abuse. It may also be linked to asthma and sleep apnea. One of the study’s authors said loneliness seems to act as more of an indicator of disease rather than a direct cause. Other experts agree that addressing loneliness is important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. They stress the need to better understand how loneliness connects with health conditions before making assumptions. A psychologist at the University of Arizona said that while loneliness is tough to experience, we need to rethink how it affects overall health. The article stresses that public health efforts should address loneliness and improve mental health services with the hope of preventing diseases.
Our last story for today—did you know that the waste from making olive oil could be good for your health? Right now, it’s being thrown away and causing harm to the environment, but experts say this waste, known as Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW), might hold powerful health benefits. OMW is a liquid left behind when olives are washed, crushed, and pressed into oil, and it’s full of helpful nutrients, including antioxidants like tannins and flavonols, as well as important minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
One doctor from the University of New South Wales says the exciting thing about olive mill wastewater is that it takes something that was a waste costing money to treat and dispose of and turns it into something useful—and even something profitable. OMW actually contains more antioxidants than olive oil itself, including phenols, which may reduce inflammation. Phenols are believed to help lower the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. However, these same compounds can be toxic in large amounts, so they must be used carefully.
There’s also potential for OMW to be used in food products. Companies could add these bioactives to processed foods, boosting their nutritional value and potentially extending their shelf life. The article does caution that while OMW may offer health benefits, the science is still evolving. Before trying OMW or any new health product, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. The article reminds us that OMW is concentrated but is not a supplement—it sits somewhere between food and medicine, and more research is needed to understand its full effects.
That’s all we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us on Health Channel News.
