strokes totaled 16 percent of Palauans in 2011. The National Stoke Association reported that 3,639 Pacific Islanders died of stroke in 2009. Medical expenses for stroke have resulted in part of the $8,104,044 spent on NCDs in Palau (Kuartei, 2011). Palauans face a greater threat for stroke because of lifestyle issues. Lack of activity, as well as social and cultural issues with food, result in weight gain and poor health conditions. Foods that are consumed by the community such as processed foods, salt, red meat, and fried foods all increase the risk of a stroke (Mercola, 2011). Smoking also increases the risk of stroke (Mercola, 2011). Smoking in the community is a known activity which only adds to the chances of stroke. The National Stroke Association reported that smoking doubles a person’s risk of stroke. Heat stroke is also a potential danger in Palau’s tropical climate. A heat stroke can take place when the body is exposed
to high temperatures for too long (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Once the body temperature rises to at least 104 degrees it will overheat and become exhausted causing a stroke (Mayo Clinic, 2013). The Mayo clinic has also reported that high humidity, health problems, some medications, and extensive physical work in high heat create a larger risk for stroke.
Respiratory Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that makes it difficult to breathe. This is due to the COPD causing coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, which causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. COPD is typically caused by long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the airways. For example, cigarette smoke (first and secondhand), air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust. According to the World Health Organization, COPD accounted for 21,000 deaths in the Western Pacific.
Stand Together Against Non-Communicable Diseases
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Another major Cause of COPD is a problem with indoor air pollution, which occurs when people use biomass fuels such as crop residues, dung, straw and wood for their cooking and heating needs (WHO, 2005). Women exposed to indoor smoke are three times as likely to suffer from COPD than women who cook with cleaner fuels such as electricity and gas (WHO, 2005). Indoor air pollution is responsible for 426,000 deaths in the Western Pacific Region (WHO, 2005). Smoking is the biggest contributor to respiratory disease. The Palau Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) was a schoolbased survey of students in Grades 6-12 conducted in 2001, 2005, and 2009. From 2001 to 2009 the smoking rate of youth aged 13- 15 years old increased from 21.6% to 41.3% (Oseked, 2012). The 2009 Youth tobacco survey reveals that 1 in 5 youth who have tried smoking had their first cigarette before the age of eleven and one in ten youth between the ages of 13 and 15 started chewing betel
Situation Analysis