Lifestyle and risk reduction in the focus of the 'Lifestyle' conference! Experts present approaches to harm reduction
2024-09-30 09:24:24
TiranaPost
On September 25 at the Pyramid of Tirana, the 'Lifestyle Conference' took place - the 11th Conference on 'Lifestyle and harm reduction.' Dr. Adrian Hoxha, chairman of the Public Health Association, also the organizer of this event, delivered the opening speech of the conference emphasizing the importance of this conference for the individual and the population.
"The conference on lifestyle and risk reduction is a valuable organization towards a healthier lifestyle for the individual and the population. I must emphasize that medicine has evolved a step further by including a contemporary concept such as harm reduction, which means any effort or change we undertake to live in a healthier way," said Dr. Hoxha.
The panel of the 11th conference on lifestyle and risk reduction was attended by representatives from the Public Health Association, the Regional Directorate of the Health Services Operator, the Institute of Public Health, the Faculty of Medicine as well as public health experts. A special element of this organization was the contribution of the media, health journalists, athletes, nutritionists, pharmacists, psychologists and technology experts sharing their personal and professional experience with the audience. This comprehensive element in the discussions of the conference Dr. Hoxha sees it as a transformation of the field of medicine.
"Also, medicine today is no longer alone in its efforts, but other branches such as social sciences or technology have joined, this is also thanks to the evolution of life today, where a large part is attributed to social relations and technology as indivisible part of us," he added.
In this direction, Dr. Xheladin Dracini, rector of the University of Medicine.
"I used to consider the doctor as someone who dealt with the disease and the disease itself was a fear, while during these years a big change has happened, where the disease is no longer the center of attention but health. The 'guardians' of health are not only doctors but all other professions related to health," said Dr. Dracini.
The conference focused on the presentation of approaches to reduce the harms that stem from malnutrition, lifestyle, lack of physical activity, the use of harmful substances such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, as well as the uncontrolled use of technology.
Regarding the concept of harm reduction, Dr. Roland Shuperka, an expert on tobacco control, said that the increase in the number of smokers in the country is worrying. He said that the moment has come to shift the focus on informing the public and health professionals towards harm reduction.
"Regarding smoking, we cannot expect a smoker who has been smoking for years to immediately quit, while if we wait this means that the harm and risks to the individual and the population increase.
Therefore, we should consider the concept of harm reduction as an alternative solution to reduce the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. If we take the example of Sweden, as a case of success, it has put harm reduction in the foreground, even before the smoking ban, because time passes and every effort towards reduction is in the interest of all of us." - he said. expert Shuperka.
While the 'Lifestyle Conference' dealt with technology and disinformation issues, Dr. Shuperka also had a comment.
"Meanwhile, it should be reiterated once again that the stigma that circulates on tobacco products is not nicotine, the substance that causes cancer, but the carbon monoxide and tar that is produced when the cigarette burns. This is one of the reasons we talk about alternative products with reduced risk that heat up smoking," he continued.
The 11th conference on lifestyle and risk reduction closed with the message to embrace healthy habits, strengthen social relationships, follow a balanced diet in colors and an active routine to minimize the risks in our everyday life.
