Scotland's top doctor said today that 5,000 lives a year could be saved if Scots took simple steps to lead healthier lives.
Scotland's top doctor said today that 5,000 lives a year could be saved if Scots took simple steps to lead healthier lives.
Chief medical officer Dr Harry Burns warned of the damage factors such as alcohol and obesity have on the nation's health.
In his annual report he highlighted the fact that in some deprived areas the number of premature deaths from alcoholic liver disease is now higher than deaths from heart attacks.
His report also revealed that the number of people diagnosed with bowel cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer could all rise.
If current trends remain unchanged, the number of cases of bowel cancer is projected to rise by almost 50%, going from 3,412 a year in 2005 to an average of 5,116 a year during 2016-20.
Over the same period the number of cases of prostate cancer is projected to rise from 2,420 to 3,207 - an increase of 33%.
And cases of breast cancer in women are projected to rise by 22%, going from 3,998 a year in 2005 to 4,886 during 2016-20.
While deaths from bowel and breast cancer are expected to remain relatively stable, the number of people dying from prostate cancer is expected to increase from 793 in 2007 to 1,249 a year from 2015-19 - an increase of 58%.
Dr Burns said: "Coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer are the biggest causes of death in Scotland.
"Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease in Scotland are rising faster than almost anywhere else in the world.
"Tragically thousands of Scots are dying from these conditions years earlier than they should."
And he said: "I estimate around 5,000 lives could be saved in Scotland each year if we followed simple steps to avoid know risk factors."
Health chiefs recommend people should not smoke, eat a healthy diet, be physically active most days, keep within the recommended limits for drinking alcohol and should never inject drugs.
Dr Burns also stressed that not all cases of cancer were "inevitable".
He said: "Lives can be saved if people know how to help prevent cancer."
He went on: "We are making progress in reducing some cancer deaths but, with the average age of the Scottish population increasing, the number of new cancers in Scotland is increasing year-on-year.
"But there is now mounting evidence to show you can take steps to prevent some cancers - everything from eating your five fruit and veg each day and not smoking to avoiding sunburn."
And Dr Burns said: "I would urge Scots to think of cancer as a disease that is to a great extent preventable."
