Home » Medicine and sport launch the ‘Marshall Plan’ of prevention

Medicine and sport launch the ‘Marshall Plan’ of prevention

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Even with all the extenuating circumstances of the case, the bad habits taken during the lockdown are presenting the bill. Taking refuge in comfort food, in a cigarette or a glass more as well as curling up on the sofa with remote control in hand, zapping between a Covid bulletin and a TV series, have represented for many a lifeline to be ferried along the various phases of this pandemic that now risks becoming the ‘mother’ of a new emergency: that of epidemics of diseases caused by incorrect lifestyles, from tumors to rheumatological diseases up to cardiovascular ones such as heart attack and stroke. The numbers show it without filters. In 2021, there are over one million more smokers than in the past. 44% of citizens increased in weight between smart working and reduction of physical activity following the closure of gyms and swimming pools (the increase was an average of 4 kg). In addition, there have been increases of 23.6% among males and 9.7% of females in excessive consumption of alcohol that can put health at risk. To recover from this public health disaster, the scientific societies gathered in the ‘Permanent Forum on the National Health System in the post Covid’ launch, together with the world of sport represented by Coni, a real Marshall Plan that promotes healthy lifestyles.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment

The ‘Forum’ is made up of 19 scientific societies from the main therapeutic areas (oncology, cardiology, hematology, rheumatology, neurology, gynecology, urology, surgery) which, for the first time, came together to deal with post Covid. “We have created a substantial document, sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health, putting forward concrete proposals to redesign the National Health System and solve the major issues that have emerged with the coronavirus starting from the structural shortage of doctors, the modernization of hospitals and the reorganization of local medicine ”, he explains Francesco Cognetti, coordinator of the ‘Forum’ and president of the Together Against Cancer Foundation. “In 2020 there were over 1.3 million fewer hospitalizations than in 2019, those of oncological surgery decreased by 80% in scheduled activities and, for the cardiovascular area, the decline was about 20%. At the same time, we are realizing that the pandemic, in addition to the 130,000 deaths, risks causing another epidemic linked to the incorrect lifestyles that citizens have adopted in a year and a half of lockdown ”.

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Diagnoses become more advanced

Confirming the diagnostic delays is also Riccardo Masetti, President Susan G. Komen Italia: “In 2020, more than two and a half million fewer screening exams were performed than in 2019. Delays that are accumulating and that translate into a net reduction not only in new diagnoses of cancer of the breast (3,324 fewer) and colorectal (1,300 fewer), but also lesions that may be a sign of this latter neoplasia (7,400 undetected advanced colorectal adenomas) or cervical cancer (2,782 undiagnosed CIN 2 or more severe injuries). From a clinical point of view, for months we have been observing more advanced breast tumors at the first diagnosis than in the past with frequency and an increase in cancer mortality is expected in the near future in our country. It is also important to raise awareness among citizens on the role of secondary prevention, which makes it possible to identify neoplasms at an early stage when the chances of recovery are high “.

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Prevention in oncology

Cancer is the most treatable and preventable of chronic diseases: 40% of cancers, equal to over 150 thousand cases every year in Italy, are avoidable thanks to healthy lifestyles. Behavioral and therefore modifiable risk factors are responsible for approximately 65,000 cancer deaths each year. Smoking is the risk factor with the greatest impact, accounting for at least 43,000 annual deaths from cancer. And smokers are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than non-smokers. Of all deaths caused by cardiovascular disease, about one in five is related to smoking. And as much as 20% of cancers are caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Today the Forum launches its ‘Marshall Plan’ dedicated to prevention. “We start with a very broad social campaign, and then go to stadiums and sports halls before matches, to distribute brochures and ad hoc material. A way to meet and inform citizens ”, continues Cognetti. “We will distribute posters in hospitals to raise awareness among patients and families. We will also organize appointments in the squares where we will meet citizens of all ages ”.

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Physical activity and health

Movement – especially when wearing the shoes of a sport as popular as football – is one of the most effective weapons of prevention. An international study involving about one and a half million people and 26 types of carcinoma showed that physical activity reduces the incidence of seven types of neoplasms by more than 20%: cancer of the esophagus, endometrium, kidney, lung, liver, gastric and myeloid leukemia – points out. “A reduction in incidence between 10% and 20% concerns the risk for six other types, including cancers of the breast, head and neck, rectum, bladder and myeloma,” he explains. Giovanni Swaps, scientific director of the Gemelli University Hospital of Rome and Past President of the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

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Prevention for women

“Prevention – continues Scambia – is a path that must accompany us at all ages and must be increasingly personalized on the basis of individual characteristics. In particular, in women, specific programs correspond to each stage of life, from vaccination against Hpv in adolescence, to adherence in adulthood to mammographic screening programs and to the Pap test for the prevention of cervical cancer and, in people who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, gynecological, ultrasound and mammographic checks must begin at the age of 30. Healthy lifestyles, in particular physical activity and weight control, must be maintained throughout life, even after menopause, and play an important role in reducing the risk of relapse in people who have been diagnosed with cancer “.

The role of sport

The world of sport also takes sides with science to raise awareness among all citizens. “WHO recommends practicing at least one hundred and fifty minutes, or two and a half hours of moderate physical activity each week, such as walking or cycling,” he says. Giovanni Malagò, president of Coni. “The American Cancer Society has updated its cancer prevention guidelines, doubling the time spent on the movement. The document urges adults to engage in between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or between 75 and 150 minutes of intense physical activity per week. Unfortunately, in Italy, the pre-pandemic data, updated to 2019, already highlighted the poor attitude of most citizens towards the movement: 35% of the population does not practice any sporting activity, but these percentages have worsened as a result restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Now we have to work hard to get everyone back to practicing sport continuously ”.

Smoking and alcohol: young people at risk

The ‘Marshall Plan’ for prevention is particularly aimed at young people. The pandemic has, in fact, determined an increase in smokers under 18. One in 3 between 14 and 17 years has already had contact with cigarette smoke and 42% with electronic cigarettes. Not only. The isolation caused by the pandemic has favored uncontrolled alcohol consumption. Of particular concern is the increase recorded in 2020 in young women at risk (30.5%), 14-17 year-olds, who for the first time exceed their peers (28.4%). Another variable linked to the risk is drinking to get drunk, binge drinking, the alcoholic binge of 6 or more glasses of alcoholic beverages on a single occasion, which involves 830,000 11-25 year olds (21.8% of the total number of binge drinkers in Italy) that come to the point of intoxication.

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Coaches for Health

And what better way to hook young people than using it as via sport? “The world of sport – he explains Michele Uva, Football & Social Responsability Director of Uefa – must deal with a fundamental issue such as Health & Well-being today and above all with the new generations in mind. The issues of nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being and avoiding the use of substances harmful to health are social urgencies to be addressed. Uefa is doing it using a new path with the coaches of the women’s and men’s national teams of the 55 European federations as testimonials. The ‘Coaches for Health‘ program starts with the #FeelWell, Play Well campaign created thanks to the scientific contribution of the Together Against Cancer Foundation. Over the next three months they will use their influential voices to engage young people and civil society at large about the importance of making healthy behavioral choices that help the prevention pillar. During the pilot phase, the coaches of five Federations – Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Slovenia – recorded educational messages through 10-30 second videos that will be broadcast on all communication channels: social media, newsletters, websites official web “.

Champions that make school

Starting with families, the good example is the one that is able to best convey messages, values ​​and behaviors. Even more – especially among adolescents – is the example that comes from the champions. “I have always believed in the ‘Allied Health Coach’ project – he underlines Max Allegri – because all of us coaches, professionals and amateurs, have a duty to direct young people to respect their bodies in order to become healthy adults. Covid requires us to pay even greater attention to these aspects. It is important to teach the correct game patterns but it is essential to explain to the children that it is necessary not to smoke, not to consume alcohol and to follow the Mediterranean diet. I proudly continue to carry out this project ”. “I am also proud to actively participate in this campaign – he adds Roberto Mancini, National team coach. “The world of sport must do its part. We must become aware of the role that is attributed to us by young people and set a good example. We must also be champions in life, taking care of our health ”.

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