The Western society we live in offers enormous health benefits. However, the same conditions that make it rich in comfort also conceal dangers to well-being and contribute to the spread of chronic diseases. Those who come from other cultures and geographical areas, living and working in our context, may be even more exposed to these risks.

It is therefore our responsibility to provide clear and detailed information about both the advantages and disadvantages of our lifestyle. The organization and rules of our society, which ensure personal and community hygiene, have drastically reduced infectious diseases and accidents. The availability of vaccinations, screenings, and innovative medications has eliminated once-deadly epidemics, allowing people to better manage many chronic conditions and recover from numerous cancers. All of this is made possible by a universal public healthcare system, accessible to everyone.

Alongside these benefits, however, the society of consumption and excess brings more subtle risks: smoking, alcohol, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and sedentary behaviour. Addressing lifestyle choices with empathy is a delicate but essential task: it can help shed light on harmful habits and, at the same time, highlight and preserve the healthy aspects of one’s culture of origin, which should not be abandoned but rather valued and maintained.