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High-income countries face different health issue to lower-income countries. Infant mortality is much lower and communicable diseases such as malaria are not an issue.

In 2018, the leading causes of death in Scotland were as follows:

• ischaemic heart disease
• dementia and Alzheimer's disease
• lung cancer
• cerebrovascular disease, including stroke
• lower respiratory diseases

These illnesses reflect an older population and are in many cases linked to lifestyle and environment.

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Health, lifestyle and environment

Quality of health and wellbeing can be affected by many factors, including the following:

• income - people on low incomes are more likely to have a poorer diet, lower quality housing, less access to green space and less money to spend on activities
• diet - a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers
• lifestyle - smoking and drinking alcohol both have a negative impact on health
• activity - physical activity boosts physical and mental health
• environment - there is increasing evidence that air pollution and even noise pollution can damage our health
• social issues - issues such as stress, loneliness and isolation can impact both mental and physical health

Watch the video below to find out about one project that aims to improve young people's mental and physical wellbeing.

Scottish health facts

• In 2019 17% of Scottish adults smoked cigarettes
• In 2019 47% of all Scottish adults reported living with some form of long-term condition
• In 2018 267,615 people were registered as having type 2 diabetes

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