Health problems linked to smoking, booze and bad diet cost NHS £11billion
Dr Rebecca Wagstaff compares lifestyle choice related conditions to those of Victorian times
Illnesses related to alcohol, cigarettes and unhealthy food are costing the NHS in England more than £11bn every year, officials say.
Public Health England (PHE) warns conditions including diabetes and smoking-related bronchitis are becoming untreatable epidemics.
They say that unless such health problems are treated more effectively the NHS is at risk of becoming unaffordable.
Dr Rebecca Wagstaff of PHE compares the conditions with those of Victorian times and says: "When you look back, we worried about things like diphtheria and polio, and we've actually managed to conquer those now.
"The new threats are things like diabetes and chronic bronchitis. They could overwhelm us."
Approximately four out of 10 middle-aged people already suffer with a long-term condition with no cure.
These illnesses, of which the cause is directly linked with lifestyle choices, is costing the National Health Services £11bn each year.
Not only are they cutting people's lives short, they are running the risk of running our health services into financial turmoil.
Dr Wagstaff added: "They are illnesses for which there is no cure, and they cost the NHS more than "11bn each year.
"That's a phenomenal amount of money and more than that, it is taking years off people's lives."
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