Why are NCDs important?
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are health conditions that are not usually passed directly from one person to another.
The major groups include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.
Together, these diseases affect millions of families around the world. They can develop over many years, but the conditions that shape our health often begin much earlier in life.
NCDs are not simply the result of individual choices. The food available to people, the air they breathe, opportunities for physical activity, housing, education, income, working conditions, marketing, healthcare access and public policies can all influence health.
If many NCDs share the same underlying conditions, could changing those conditions help prevent several diseases at the same time?
Personal hints
Ask yourself
- What does "health" mean to me beyond simply not being sick?
- What foods, activities and environments are part of my everyday life?
- Where do I get health information?
- Which health claims should I question before believing or sharing them?
Look beyond yourself
People do not all have the same opportunities to live in healthy environments.
A young person may want to be active but live somewhere without safe spaces to play.
A family may want healthier food but face financial, geographic or cultural barriers to accessing it.
Think like a public-health explorer
Instead of asking only:
"What did this person do?"
also ask:
"What conditions shaped their choices?"
Explore
Before exploring individual diseases, discover the shared language of NCDs.
Cardiovascular disease
Diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, including heart disease and stroke.
Diabetes
A group of conditions involving elevated blood glucose and changes in how the body regulates glucose.
Cancer
A large group of diseases involving abnormal cells that can grow and spread.
Chronic respiratory disease
Long-term diseases affecting breathing and the respiratory system.
Bone health
Healthy bones are important throughout life, especially as populations age.
Air pollution
An environmental exposure that can contribute to respiratory, cardiovascular and other health problems.
Learn
NCDs form a connected system
NCDs may appear to be separate diseases, but many share biological, environmental, social and economic pathways.
For example, unhealthy environments and patterns of exposure can contribute to raised blood pressure, high blood glucose and other metabolic changes. These can increase the risk of several NCDs.
Risk factors are not all the same
Some risk factors involve behaviours or exposures. Others are biological or metabolic. Still others arise from the social, commercial, physical and policy environments.
Prevention is more than personal choice
Prevention can include individual actions, supportive families, healthier schools, safer workplaces, cleaner air, healthier food systems, effective regulation, accessible healthcare and evidence-informed public policy.
Early life matters
Health-related knowledge, environments, habits, opportunities and exposures during childhood and adolescence can influence health across the life course.
This is why GHE focuses on young people: learning about health today can help shape healthier societies tomorrow.
Explore the NCD Family
Choose a topic and follow your curiosity. Each module uses the same GHE learning pathway.
Cardiovascular Health, Stroke & Hypertension
Explore the heart, blood vessels, stroke, blood pressure and cardiovascular prevention.
Explore module →Diabetes
Learn about glucose, diabetes, prevention, equity and the wider determinants of health.
Explore module →Cancer
Explore cancer prevention, early detection, risk factors, equity and global cancer control.
Explore module →Respiratory Health
Explore asthma, COPD, respiratory infections, tobacco exposure and clean air.
Explore module →Osteoporosis
Discover why strong bones matter throughout the life course and how environments influence healthy ageing.
Explore module →Air Pollution
Explore indoor and outdoor pollution, PM2.5, PM10, measurement, equity and healthier environments.
Explore module →Mental Health
Explore mental well-being, resilience, social environments, equity and access to support and care.
Explore module →NCD Risk Factors
Explore the shared factors connecting many NCDs: blood pressure, food, activity, tobacco, alcohol and air pollution.
Explore risk factors →The Shared Risk-Factor Web
Many NCDs have overlapping risk factors. Understanding these connections helps us move from disease-by-disease thinking to population health.
Hypertension
Blood pressure that remains too high can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Healthy Eating & Nutrition
Food systems, affordability, availability, culture and dietary patterns all influence health.
Physical Activity
Opportunities to move are shaped not only by motivation but also by safe spaces, schools, transport and neighbourhood design.
Tobacco & Smoke Exposure
Tobacco use and second-hand smoke are important causes of cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer-related disease.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption can contribute to several health harms. Public health also considers the environments and policies that influence exposure.
Air Pollution
Indoor and outdoor air pollution can affect the lungs, heart and wider population health.
Weight & Metabolic Health
Weight is one part of metabolic health. GHE focuses on healthy environments and avoids blaming people for body size.
Social & Commercial Conditions
Advertising, income, education, housing, work, urban design and access to services can shape health opportunities.
Hypertension
High blood pressure is often called a "silent" risk factor because people may not know they have it. It is strongly connected with cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Healthy eating
Healthy eating is not about a perfect diet. It involves access to safe, affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate foods.
Physical activity
Movement supports physical and mental well-being. Whether people can be active is influenced by schools, neighbourhoods, transport, safety and opportunities for recreation.
Tobacco and smoke exposure
Tobacco harms many organs and contributes to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and multiple cancers. Protecting people also means reducing exposure to second-hand smoke.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a population-health issue because consumption can contribute to disease and injury. Young people should understand the evidence, social influences and health consequences rather than receiving messages based on blame.
Air pollution
Fine particles and other pollutants can affect respiratory and cardiovascular health. Sources include traffic, industry, household fuels, wildfire smoke and other environmental exposures.
Weight and metabolic health
Metabolic health includes measures such as blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids. Body weight is influenced by biology, environment, food systems, activity opportunities and many other factors.
GHE does not promote body comparison or appearance ideals. The focus is health, dignity and supportive environments.
Think
Critical-thinking questions
- Why can several different diseases share the same risk factors?
- If healthy food is unavailable or unaffordable, how much control does an individual really have over their diet?
- Why might a safe park or walking route be considered a health intervention?
- Should governments regulate conditions that influence NCD risk? Why?
- Why can air pollution be considered an NCD risk factor even though individuals do not choose to breathe polluted air?
- Why is blaming people for NCDs a poor public-health strategy?
Connect: From Self to World
My health
Understand your body, health information, emotions, nutrition, movement and environments.
Shared environments
Think about food, activity, smoke exposure, stress, sleep and support within families and peer groups.
Healthy places
Explore schools, parks, transport, housing, air quality, food environments and healthcare.
Health systems & policy
Ask how governments prevent NCDs, regulate risks, provide healthcare and address inequality.
Global NCD challenge
Compare countries and ask why NCD risks, services and outcomes are distributed unequally around the world.
Social Determinants of Health
NCDs cannot be understood only through biology. They are also shaped by the social, economic, commercial and physical environments in which people live.
Income & social protection
Economic resources influence food, housing, transportation, education and healthcare access.
Education
Education can influence health literacy, opportunities and the ability to navigate health systems.
Food environments
Availability, affordability, marketing and cultural context shape food choices.
Built environment
Streets, parks, transport, housing and neighbourhood safety can influence activity and exposure.
Work
Working conditions, income, stressors and occupational exposures can affect health.
Healthcare
Prevention, screening, diagnosis, medicines, treatment and continuity of care all matter.
Commercial determinants
Commercial practices, marketing and product environments can influence population exposure and behaviour.
Environment & climate
Air pollution, heat, wildfire smoke and other environmental changes can influence NCD risk.
If two young people have different opportunities to eat well, move safely, breathe clean air and access healthcare, should we expect identical health outcomes?
Sustainable Development Goals
NCD prevention is therefore not only a medical issue. It is connected with food systems, education, sustainable communities, inequality, environmental protection and climate action.
Global Leadership & Evidence
Who works on NCDs?
- WHO — global leadership, evidence, guidance, monitoring and support for NCD prevention and control.
- UN agencies — address health alongside poverty, food systems, environment, development and inequality.
- World Bank — financing, health-system strengthening and development analysis relevant to NCDs.
- IHME — generates estimates of disease burden, risk factors and trends.
- National and provincial health authorities — prevention, surveillance, regulation, screening and healthcare.
- Universities and scientific organizations — research, innovation, surveillance and evaluation.
- Communities and young people — advocacy, participation, innovation and accountability.
Global Evidence Date
Global evidence: WHO, 2025–2026
GHE last reviewed: August 2026
Next scheduled review: August 2027
NCD evidence is continuously updated. GHE therefore treats this Hub as living evidence, rather than a static textbook.
Key evidence areas include NCD burden, shared risk factors, hypertension, healthy diets, tobacco, air pollution, physical activity, mental health and social determinants of health.
Reflect
My health
What did you learn that changed the way you think about NCDs?
Which topic would you like to explore next?
Other people's health
Which groups may have fewer opportunities to live in healthy environments?
What could make those opportunities fairer?
Systems thinking
If one policy could improve several NCD risk factors at once, what might it look like?
Act
- Learn to distinguish reliable health evidence from misinformation.
- Encourage supportive and inclusive environments for physical activity.
- Learn about healthy and culturally appropriate food environments.
- Support smoke-free environments and policies that protect people from tobacco exposure.
- Learn why clean air is a public-health issue.
- Challenge stigma toward people living with chronic diseases or mental-health conditions.
- Ask how schools and communities can become healthier environments.
- Use evidence to participate in conversations about health policy and equity.
Test Your Thinking: 10 MCQs
These questions test knowledge, interpretation, application, SDH, SDGs, health-system responsibility and global-health thinking.
1. Which group includes the four major NCD groups?
Answer: A
2. Which is a shared behavioural or environmental risk factor for several NCDs?
Answer: A
3. Why is hypertension important in NCD prevention?
Answer: A
4. Which example best demonstrates a social determinant of health?
Answer: A
5. Why is healthy eating a population-health issue?
Answer: A
6. A city creates safer walking and cycling routes. What could this potentially influence?
Answer: A
7. Which SDG is most directly connected with NCD prevention?
Answer: A
8. Which statement best reflects health equity?
Answer: B
9. Why should NCD prevention involve governments and communities as well as individuals?
Answer: A
10. Which statement best represents the GHE approach to NCDs?
Answer: C
Social and commercial conditions
Health is influenced by the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, live and age, as well as by commercial and policy environments.