Following the trend in other countries and notably in developed ones, the main causes of death in Mexico have evolved over the past century. Whereas infections and communicable diseases were previously the main killers, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry and the implementation of better hygiene practices have contributed to the decline of these killers. This has enabled people to live longer which, alongside unhealthy lifestyles, has facilitated the rise of chronic and degenerative diseases. The longer people live, the more likely they are to develop a degenerative CNS condition such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, impacting quality of life. Today, a Mexican is much more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer than influenza, diarrhea or smallpox. Those top three conditions accounted for almost half of all deaths in Mexico in 2015.

Despite rapid treatment advances, there is no magic cure for these diseases. Although certain risk factors have been identified and scores of scientists are working on finding solutions, perfectly healthy people can be struck down by a heart attack and children develop tumors. Cardiovascular disease englobes tens of different conditions and a diabetes diagnosis entails precautions such as a special diet for the remainder of one’s life. Failure to do follow these precautions can not only eventually lead to death but can cause debilitating sideeffects such as blindness and diabetic foot, resulting in amputation and poor quality of life.

Cancer is often thought of as the scariest of them all, as a tumor surgically removed or declared gone after treatment such as chemotherapy can reappear, sometimes years later