There is a problem that faces us in every aspect of life. An enemy that affects the lives of many yet tends to go completely unnoticed at times. However, one act of murder or terrorism and the whole world is in an uproar. One outbreak of SARS or the bird flu and everyone is up in arms. Yet there is a much more severe threat that faces everyone from every walk of life, everyday.



So what is this problem you ask? The technical term for this worldwide problem is modern chronic disease. It accounts for over 60 percent of deaths in the entire world and is a severe epidemic throughout the world today. It is a disease that spreads through neglect and poor lifestyle choices. It leads to such severe problems as cancer, diabetes and heart disease just to name a few. In the USA alone, this epidemic kills more than 2,600 people very day. Throughout the world the number is even more staggering. Over the next decade it is predicted that this disease will kill over 350 million people.

Thanks to new technology and creations our modern society thrives on laziness. There is rarely any incentive to remain fit or engage in physical activity. We can get anything done and eat anything without even having to leave the house or get off of the computer. Our lives have become revolved around sitting. Sitting in a car, sitting in a chair at work and sitting on the couch feeding our need for television.

It seems that everyone is starting to neglect how important physical activity is. Our bodies feed off of and need exercise in order to remain strong and healthy. With no stimulation of our systems our cells and hormones cannot repair themselves or reproduce in a way that is beneficial to our bodies. It seems that the more we grow as society and the smarter we get, the more we forget about the basics of nutrition and health.

Our health and sickness as a whole is on a downward spiral. We are now choosing to watch television and play computer games rather than engage in life extending activities. This is not only unfair to ourselves but also unfair to future generations. As more people learn of the dangers of laziness and modern chronic disease, an uproar is beginning. We must continue to educate people on the dangers of their lifestyle choices and how to improve the value and length o their lives.

It is through changing the mindset of society that we can make the most difference. We need to stop seeing exercise as an unnecessary chore and start viewing it as a way of life. It is a choice that must be made in order to live appropriately.

Another problem is that we are becoming so reliant upon doctors and the medicines they prescribe. What we need to understand as a species is that prevention is the best medicine. Once you have been stricken down by a disease there are rarely any cures or options available to you. However the fact is that you can prevent these problems simply by living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of yourself.