There’s no clear route towards creating a better society; indeed, some of the things that we think push us forward actually lead to more problems than they solve. But there is one field that undoubtedly serves to make us better: the improvement of healthcare. As a society, we have a duty to take a look at the health issues that cause the most damage to the population and take steps to move beyond them. While there are many areas of health that deserve attention, it’s best to start with the ones that are among the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.

It falls to public health officials to identify the threats that lead to serious medical issues and to educate the public about what they can do to protect themselves. As well as underlying health conditions, there must also be a spotlight on social factors that can impact a person’s health and quality of life, including alcohol and drug abuse, and accidents on the roads.

So how do you go about helping to eradicate these problems? It involves looking at the data, and making a note of any sharp increases in the numbers of people suffering from certain conditions and then looking at the lifestyle changes that might have contributed to this increase.

If you are interested in this topic, then you can look at becoming a public health official yourself. To learn more about the challenges and responsibilities of this position, take a look at the infographic below:

Infographic design by University of Nevada-Reno University of Nevada-Reno