Lifestyle Diseases

I am Dr. Dinesh Kumar and I am a General Physician. Lifestyle diseases are defined as disease link with a way, people live their life. This is commonly caused by alcohol, drugs, smoking as well as lack of physical activities and unhealthy eating. Diseases that impact our lifestyle are heart diseases, stroke, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, chronic renal disease, renal failure and depression and also there can be some psychosexual disorder. So, what is the prevalence and risk factors? In India, 25% of people, over 25 years of age, they suffer from hypertension and this hypertension causes severe morbidity and mortality. It is a high-risk condition causes approximately 50% of death from stroke and 50% of coronary artery disease which is heart disease. The dominant diseases and in this aspect are considered to be CAD, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma and obesity.

There may be some risk factors associated with this and these can be modifiable risk factors or non-modifiable risk factors. People have started to consume more meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, tobacco, sugary foods, coca-cola, and alcoholic beverages. They have developed a sedentary lifestyle and greater risk of obesity. So, rates of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. They have started increasing. After these dietary changes or the modification in the lifestyle. Adults can develop lifestyle diseases through behavioural factors that impact on that. These can be unemployment and unsafe life, poor social environment. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, dental cavities, and asthma, they appear at greater risk in the younger population.

It is important to note that the combination of these modifiable and non-modifiable factors are responsible for this non-communicable disease. The non-modifiable risk factors basically comprise those characteristics that are inherent that is age, sex, and genes and cannot be altered due to individual and environmental effects. On the other way, we have the modifiable risk factors which can be transformed by the society or individuals. Thereby ensuring amended health outcomes poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use has been typically highlighted as the prime cause of lifestyle diseases by WHO. typically we have 4 common modifiable risk factors that can be controlled.

These are an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The composition of human diet has changed considerably over time. With the high demand for readily available pre-cooked food are found to be high in sugar and salt and they lack inadequate nutrition. This spread of fast food culture has resulted in the increased spread of obesity. Tobacco accounts for 30% of cancer globally but these lifestyle diseases are affecting and how these are affecting the society. The population growth has slowed down but still remains very high. It is also observed at the growth of population in the bracket of 60 years and above is increasing along with the effects of morbidity and mortality. The burden of these diseases has significantly affected as well. There has been a rise in unemployment as well and healthcare expenditures. Prevention and management is the final part here.

In order to improve the situation, we will have to increase spending on prevention, screening and early detection of such cases. Reducing the fat, compulsion of diet, engaging in regular physical exercises. The cost of treatment for an oral cancer patient has estimated about 4 lakhs. Most oral cancers are preventable by avoiding the use of tobacco. Such an approach will be a relief to most Indian families that meets 70% of there health expenses out of there own pockets. Lifestyle diseases can be tackled to a large extent by simple modifications in our lifestyle, dietary changes. For example: reduce salt intake, increase consumption of fruits, salads, and vegetables. Improve physical activities and avoid the use of alcohol. Perhaps, by increase alcohol and tobacco usage and through information, communication through medical websites like Lybrate. If you want to meet me, you can meet in my Noida clinic which is in Supertech. You can also consult me online through Lybrate.

Thanks!