The Most Common Health Concerns in Canada

The focus of this year’s report by the Chief Public Health Officer was clear: concerning trends in youth substance abuse and future concern as it relates to the recent legalization of cannabis. As detailed in the Chief Public Health Officer’s report, almost 25% of youth in grades 7 to 12 exhibit drinking behaviour that is considered “high-risk”. The report also highlights a rapid increase in hospitalizations related to opioids amongst young adults ages 15-24, over the past 5 years.

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As the Chief Public Health Officer points out early in her report, “Many chronic diseases can be prevented or delayed…” and often the key to prevention lies in getting to what she identifies as the “root causes of risks” – namely, tobacco smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and alcohol abuse.

The Public Health Agency of Canada notes that adopting healthy behavours early on is vital in taking first steps to healthy living down the road. Unfortunately, less than 10% of children (aged 5 to 17) meet the 24-hour movement guidelines, set out to establish healthy standards for children and youth when it comes to activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. As for adults, 80% of people over the age of 18 do not meet physical activity guidelines.

According to Health Canada, obesity rates in Canada for youth have nearly tripled in the last 30 years. Childhood obesity puts those affected at a higher risk for the development of further health issues later on in life. Further, children and youth struggling with obesity are more likely to remain obese in their adulthood.

There are physical and emotional consequences to childhood obesity, which include (but are not limited to): low self-esteem, depression, sleep apnea and bone and joint problems. Canada’s Food Guide suggests taking initial steps with your children like limiting their intake of soft drinks and similar beverages, substituting water in place of sugary drinks wherever possible.

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Canada Health reports that the country’s illegal drug supply is being contaminated with illegal fentanyl and similar drugs which have no visible characteristics, have no taste or smell, and are potent enough to be fatal in very small doses. Fentanyl is 20 to 40 times stronger than heroin, 100 times more potent than morphine, and can be fatal to the average adult by consuming only a tiny amount equal to a few grains of salt.

Between January 2016 and June 2018 there have been over 9,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, emergency hospital visits have increased by 73% in Ontario, that percentage attributed entirely to opioid poisonings alone.

The most recent CTADS (Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey) reveals that vaping products used by youth is steady and continues to fall below usage rates in the U.S. However, with the steady influx of new vaping-related products into the Canadian market, Health Canada is working to maintain a pulse on the relationship between youth and vaping as it continues to develop.

Cancer and other major chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease; neurological disorders and diabetes continue to be the leading causes of death amongst all Canadians. In 2016, there were 273,000 deaths in Canada, 89% of which were attributed to chronic diseases. As noted by the Chief Public Health Officer, taking a proactive approach in prevention and health-management as we age will go a long way to improving our chances against these diseases and ensuring our best quality of life.

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Cardiovascular disease is the second most common cause of death among Canadians, and while the CVD death rate has been declining in Canada since the mid-1960’s, there is still much need for concern. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates 1.6 million Canadians have heart disease or live with the effects of a stroke. According to the Chief Public Health Officer, more than 20% of Canadians over the age of 20 experience cardiovascular disease or other chronic diseases.

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Diabetes ranks in as one of the top chronic diseases attributed to deaths in Canada today. The most recent data provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada reveals that 3 million Canadians were living with diagnosed diabetes in 2013-2014, with 200,000 newly-diagnosed cases in that year alone.

In terms of prevention where possible, healthy lifestyle choices play a part in controlling risk for some types of type 2 diabetes, and there are medicinal options for those with pre-diabetes. Based on a lack of understanding around the causes of type 1 diabetes, there are no known measures of prevention currently in place.

Injuries, specifically self-harm, falls and road injuries, attributed for 6% of Canadian deaths in 2016, as noted in the Chief Public Health Officer’s 2018 report.

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According to data from Statistics Canada, over 2.6 million Canadians, aged 12 and over, suffered from a mood disorder in 2017, a number that has increased from the previous year. In a 2018 brief report, the Public Health Agency of Canada noted that mood and/or anxiety disorders are most prevalent in the “working-age” population of those Canadians 20-64 years old.

One way to help reduce your risk is to find a job with a healthy work-life balance.

As described on Health Canada’s website, Dementia is “a loss of mental function that affects daily activities. It is caused by a loss of cells in the brain and the breakdown of important nerve connections.” While the specific causes are not known, health and lifestyle factors such as obesity, unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse and tobacco use, amongst others, are commonly noted as “modifiable risks” in the development of dementia. 2017 data shows that 402,000 Canadians are living with dementia. .

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In 2016, over 1,700 people were diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease. The Chief Public Health Officer says that 0.2% of all deaths in Canada are a result of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; infectious diseases which, unlike chronic diseases, can be eliminated through prevention and control.

Canada Health describes autism spectrum disorder as a “neurodevelopmental disorder that includes impairments in language, communication skills, and social interactions combined with restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities. “As presented by the Chief Public Health Officer in a 2018 report on autism, it’s reported that 1 in 66 children and youth are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Canada, with males four times as likely to be diagnosed over females.

Hepatitis is a series of liver diseases, with hepatitis A, B and C the most common forms. Hepatitis C, which is spread through infected blood, affects an estimated 210,000 to 275,000 people in Canada, according to Health Canada. Safe sex and not sharing needles – including tattoo needles – or syringes will decrease your risk of contracting Hepatitis C.

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According the Chief Public Health Officer’s report, over 2,300 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2016, with 2,402 cases reported in 2017. Health Canada estimates 1 in 7 people who are living with HIV in Canada are not aware that they are infected.

Sexually transmitted infections or STIs, include not only HIV and Aids but also chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis and human papillomavirus. Health Canada says that the rates of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis have been rising since the 1990s.

Alcohol abuse continues to be a major issue in Canada. The report cites that 25% of youth (grades 7 to 12) are using alcohol in excess. Of all Canadians, 20% will report a substance use disorder over the course of their life, with alcohol being the most commonly reported substance.

The proof is in the numbers, with 800,000 hospitalizations in 2016/2017 in Canada attributed entirely to alcohol-based conditions. In 2016, as noted in the report, alcohol was “the leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide, among people aged 15-49 years.”

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Smoking is a leading cause of lung diseases, including emphysema and lung cancer. It also increases your risk of other forms of cancer as well as cardiovascular disease and affects the health of those around you too. The good news is that, according to Health Canada, the number of smokers in the country is dropping.

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With over 8,000 opioid-related deaths and the increasing number of overdoses since 2016, it’s not surprising that the Chief Public Health Officer highlighted opioid-abuse as one of the biggest threats to Canadian and in particular, youth health, going into 2019. Says the Chief Public Health Officer, the Canadian national life expectancy may begin to decrease as a result of this opioid epidemic which took 4,000 lives in 2017 alone.

Family violence includes violence against an intimate partner, children and the elderly. According to a report by Statistics Canada women account for 8 out of 10 victims of intimate partner violence and is the most common form of abuse reported by women ages 15 to 89. In 2017 there were over 59,000 youth victims (aged 17 and under) involved in police-reported incidents and over 11,000 senior victims aged between 65 and 89 years.

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Multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disorder that affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, is more prevalent in Canada than anywhere else in the world, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. An estimated 100,000 Canadians suffer from MS, for which there is no cure.

While seasonal flu is usually just one of those irritating things about winter, severe cases can lead to other health complications and even death. Health Canada suggests that you can reduce your risk of getting the flu by getting a flu shot and washing your hands regularly.

Pandemic flu is a flu outbreak that occurs all over the world. Different types of flu, such as bird flu, can cause pandemics but Health Canada says that your risk of getting bird flu is extremely low. Media coverage can make pandemic flu sound scarier than it is but during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, 50,000 Canadians died. While there is no current health advisory for any pandemic flu in Canada, it’s important to take preventative measures, particularly during high-risk months.

Lyme disease is spread by blacklegged ticks. In the Chief Public Health Officer’s report, it’s noted that the number of people suffering from Lyme disease has been on a steady incline over the past few decades. This increase has been influenced by many factors, one of which is climate change; where the expansion of natural tick habitats results the probability of becoming infected by those carrying the disease.

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