Perspectives in the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)

Non-communicable diseases are defined as a set of chronic diseases of major public health importance, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the development of which is influenced by one or more common risk factors (e.g., smoking, diets rich in energy and fat, physical inactivity and stress)1. The literary meaning that diseases which are not communicable (infectious) are non-communicable diseases is also true. But, the diseases of major public health importance, which are considered eminently preventable and/or controllable, are the diseases included under the term NCDs.