 This mucus causes problems with breathing and with the digestion and absorption of nutrients.Referred to as a "lifestyle" disease, because the majority of these diseases are preventable illnesses, the most common causes for non-communicable diseases (NCD) include tobacco use (smoking), alcohol abuse, poor diets (high consumption of sugar, salt, saturated fats, and trans fatty acids) and physical inactivity.Currently, NCD kills 36 million people a year, a number that by some estimates is expected to rise by 17–24% within the next decade.