- We saw in the Public Health Report for 2019 that unhealthy habits are strongly linked to socio-economic conditions, says Maria Elgstrand, Head of Business Development for Health and Health in the Östergötland Region.
One example is smoking. 7 percent of the East Goths are daily smokers, which is less than in 2006 when 13 percent smoked.
If you compare the group that has college education with those who do not have upper secondary education, the distribution is about 2 percent compared to about 12 percent.
And this is among other things the latter group that Region Östergötland now wants to reach with, among other things, digital tobacco weaning.
The risk of fatal illness can be reduced In 2017, the majority of the early deaths in Östergötland were caused by cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 80 percent of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes and more than 40 percent of all cancers could be prevented at a global level by changing lifestyle habits.
- We want to increase the opportunities for residents to take responsibility for their own health, including by offering digital health calls in primary care, says Maria Elgstrand.
Included in unhealthy living habits are smoking, unhealthy eating habits, risk consumption of alcohol and insufficient physical activity.