Chronic Degenerative Diseases
Early this century the majority of deaths were caused by infectious diseases, but with the improvements in hygiene and the advances in 20th century western medicine, these have declined dramatically. However a new epidemic of diseases has developed in the second half of the 20th century and these diseases are now responsible for the majority of deaths. There are over 50 chronic degenerative diseases, some of which are Alzheimer's Disease, Cancer, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Crohn's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes, Emphysema, Fibromyalgia, Leukaemia, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Parkinson's Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ulcerative Colitis.

The average age at which people in the western world are contracting these diseases is decreasing. Deaths from the big seven (heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's) have reached epidemic proportions. In the USA they represent over 80% of all deaths. The so-called war against cancer has not achieved its aims. The rate at which people are contracting and dying from these diseases is increasing not decreasing.

Modern western medicine is in many cases extending the time of survival and quality of life of people who contract these diseases, but up to now it has generally done little by way of showing people how to avoid these diseases in the first place (with some notable individual exceptions).

It is pleasing to see that this attitude is changing and that a lot of medical research is now being done into topics like nutrition. Many medical practitioners are taking an interest in prevention and are studying up on this latest research.

Those medical people who refuse to take an interest in the preventative side of health care are likely to become obsolete in the 21st century.

Read on to see how long we should be able to live - free of disease.