Label printing for medicines to treat serious health problems could become much more common unless measures are taken to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

This is the warning of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which published a report this week stating that 36.1 million people died in 2008 as a result of conditions such as heart disease, strokes, cancers and diabetes.

Heart problems were the top killer with cancer second and although they cannot be entirely prevented, the WHO explained lifestyle changes could dramatically reduce their occurrence.

Director-general Dr Margaret Chan said: "For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster; a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies."

She recommended that governments should promote healthier diets, not smoking and drinking in moderation, or NCDs will kill 52 million people annually by 2030.

This comes after scientists at the National Centre of Cardiovascular Research Madrid found that heart attacks that occur between 06:00 and 12:00 are likely to do the most damage to the cardiac muscle.

Denny Bros Ltd, 28 April 2011