Why is lung disease more common in large urban areas?

Why is lung disease more common in large urban areas?

Due to their higher population density compared to rural areas, cities present the ideal conditions for any directly transmitted human infection (e.g., influenza, measles, and tuberculosis). This increased risk is mediated through greater disease-transmission probability from host to host.

Why urban areas are more prone to infectious diseases?

The density of inhabitants and the close contact between people in urban areas are potential hot spots for rapid spread of merging infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the avian flu. Criteria for a worldwide pandemic could be met in urban centres, which could develop into a worldwide …

Why are urban areas more polluted than rural ones?

Urban pollution may come from natural sources, but the most detrimental are those emissions related to human activities. The anthropogenic sources of pollution, such as factories, industries, transportation, and so on, are typically exacerbated in cities due to the local concentration of humans and human activities.

Is living in a rural area good for your respiratory health results from a cross sectional study in Scotland?

Conclusions: In this study, living in a rural area was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma but not other chronic respiratory disorders, and a lower prevalence of some respiratory symptoms (including wheeze).

How does living in an urban area affect health?

The detrimental effects of urban living on physical health have long been recognised, including higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Critically, the longer you spend in an urban environment during childhood and adolescence, the higher your risk of developing mental illness in adulthood.

What were the causes of urban diseases?

Pollution, trauma, violence, and obesity all are major causes of death and disability that are on the rise with urbanization and globalization. Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both the developed and the developing world for the past 15 years [101].

How does living in a city affect your health?

Beyond stress Crowded city life can also make us more prone to contracting viruses, especially during cold and flu season. Studies have also found that people living in urban areas often eat too much processed and fast food, which puts them at greater risk for weight gain, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Why are cities more polluted?

The sources of air pollution are intrinsically linked to how we live in cities. While many people see cars and transport as the most obvious causes of air pollution, nearly 70% of particulate matter is related to the built environment such as heating of buildings, construction and traffic related to it.

How do cities affect pollution?

Cities are major contributors to climate change. According to UN Habitat, cities consume 78 per cent of the world’s energy and produce more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The sheer density of people relying on fossil fuels makes urban populations highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

How does living in rural areas affect health?

For example, data show that people living in rural and remote areas have higher rates of hospitalisations, mortality, injury and poorer access to, and use of, primary health care services, compared with those living in metropolitan areas.