Worldwide Study of Causes of Death

* A worldwide study of why people die reports that cancer, diabetes and heart disease cause more deaths than infectious diseases in the developing countries (Sept. 16). I question whether the conclusion by the study that this interesting finding is due to the “graying of the population” tells the whole story.

I believe that this changing pattern of killing diseases is also a result of the practices of the multinational corporations. For example, the study projects that smoking will be the leading cause of death and disability within 25 years. This is the direct result of the intensive advertising campaign conducted in the developing countries by the American tobacco corporations now under attack in the U.S.

Furthermore, isn’t the change of eating habits, due to the introduction of fast foods and sugar-loaded soft drinks, one of the causes of the increase in diabetes and heart disease? And how about the uncontrolled environmental pollution by the manufacturers in these countries, where there are no environmental laws? And I suppose the starvation wages paid by the multinationals have no bearing.

No, the change in the pattern of the leading causes of death is not entirely due to the graying of the population.

SOL LONDE MD

Northridge

* According to the global disease projections, in 2020 heart disease will be No. 1 and traffic accidents No. 3, with major depression in the middle at No. 2. Connecting all three, and more accurately No. 1, is the automobile. Its excessive use eliminates exercise and endorphins, which leads to No. 1 and No. 2.

We need a new category: car-dependency syndrome.

M. POWER GIACOLETTI

Lake Forest