In recent years, Malta has seen a significant improvement in its population’s health. It boasts one of Europe’s highest life expectancies (80 years). Still, some pressing conditions need to be addressed due to their negative impact on the lives of many Maltese.
This article will discuss the top five medical issues rising in Malta today and what’s causing them. And if you want to protect yourself, we have some tips that might help.
Top 5 Medical Issues Rising In Malta
1. Ischemic Heart Disease
Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in Malta. Ischemia, a condition where blood and oxygen are not well distributed throughout the body, is the most prevalent heart disease in Malta. According to statistics, ischemic heart disease is the single biggest killer in the country. It is responsible for 1 in every five deaths in 2016.
Maltese, both men and women over the age of 30, have a higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to the average EU. This is a result of the high obesity rate in Malta and the highest rate of childhood obesity in the World. Moreover, Malta is the third-highest country in the EU in obesity cases. Other risk factors include Diabetes mellitus, a condition that leads to high blood sugar ( more on that soon.), and excess alcohol consumption.
2. Bronchial Asthma
Bronchial Asthma, also called Asthma, is another major health problem in Malta. Malta currently has the most prevalent cases of Asthma among Mediterranean countries, the third most common in Europe and the worst 25 all over the World. This statistic is no surprise since a vast number of people in the country, precisely 20% from the age of 15 and above, smoke daily. Additionally, 31% of children between the ages of 5-8 are considered passive smokers.
Aside from smoking, other causes of bronchial Asthma in Malta are genetics and the hot and humid climate. As if that isn’t enough, Doctors have associated the high death rate recorded in asthma patients in the country with non-compliance with following treatment or taking their medication.
3. Cancer
Over the past few years, the rate of cervix, pancreas, ovarian, uterine and breast cancer in Malta has been spiking. We are currently the country with the highest rate of these cancers among the Eu-A (a subsection of the World Organization designated for 27 European countries ranked with low child mortality and very low adult mortality). Unfortunately, the cause of this rise is unknown, and more research is needed to identify the causes.
4. Transmissible Diseases
Despite generally good health conditions, Malta has experienced an increase in the occurrence of infectious diseases like HIV and Tuberculosis. Interestingly, most of these diseases in Malta involve individuals not born there. After screening procedures on undocumented immigrants upon their arrival in Malta, results revealed that tuberculosis is the highest transmissible disease, with a prevalence rate of 390 per 100,000 people.
On the flip side, the incidence of Tuberculosis among Maltese-born individuals is much lower, at 2.1 per 100,000 people. Additionally, in 2016, Malta reported the third-highest number of new HIV cases in the European Union. The good news is that while a similar upward trend is noted in tuberculosis cases, this growth has since stabilized.
There’s more; throughout Malta’s history, it has faced significant global outbreaks of transmissible diseases, such as the Cholera outbreak of 1837 and the Spanish Flu epidemic, which affected Malta between 1918 and 1919. Like every other country worldwide, Malta also grappled with the COVID-19 outbreak, with the first confirmed case of Coronavirus in Malta reported on March 7, 2020.
5. Diabetes Mellitus
Last but not least, diabetes mellitus poses a significant health challenge in Malta. Currently, the estimates suggest that an outstanding 10% of Malta’s adult population (those aged 18 and above) are living with this condition, with a considerable portion of Maltese yet to be diagnosed.
Furthermore, experts predict that the prevalence of diabetes in Malta will continue to increase. This is because many of the risk factors associated with the development of Type 2 diabetes are prevalent in Malta, including obesity, low levels of physical activity, unhealthy dietary patterns, and smoking. It’s important to know that diabetes and hypertension go hand in hand, meaning hypertension can cause diabetes to develop and vice versa.
How Can You Protect Yourself From These Medical Issues Rising In Malta?
- Research shows that physical activity or regular exercise, at least 30 minutes three times a week, promotes overall health and fitness and reduces the chances of heart disease and type II diabetes
- Adequate sleep/rest: Make sure you get at least 7-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep each night and engage in activities that reduce stress. These activities could be anything you love to do, such as watching movies or hanging out with friends. Stress is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and impending immunity.
- Eat clean, organic, and nutritious foods, which you can get at the best-discounted prices at Beyond Energised. At Beyond Energies, we aim to improve the health and wellness of everyone in Malta by reducing the cost of getting high-quality, nutritious food.
Take Away on Medical Issues Rising In Malta
Although the life expectancy of Maltese is the highest among other European countries, there are serious medical issues on the rise. These medical issues include Ischemic heart disease, bronchial Asthma, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and finally, transmissible diseases.
The government has done and is doing its part in succumbing to these problems. However, most importantly, you should consider ways to protect and shield yourself and your family. What are some of these preventive measures? First, exercise regularly, then prioritize rest and sleep to reduce stress, and finally, eat clean and nutritious foods.
Food cost in Malta is expensive. However, shopping with Beyond Energised helps you spend less, save more, and still get the country’s best, high-quality food items.
