Lifestyle Diseases Swallows India

Abstract

Communicable diseases like malaria, cholera and polio have become manageable due to recent advancements in medicines. Now a new breed of diseases called’ lifestyle diseases’ has developed. Globally 14.2 million people between the 30-69 years of ages die prematurely every year from these diseases. These diseases have emerged as bigger killers than infectious or hereditary ones. Tobacco use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are the risk factors for these diseases. Life style diseases include obesity, type II diabetes, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, swimmer’s ear, cancer, stroke, COPD, cirrhosis and nephritis.

The National Family Health Survey figures suggest that currently India ranks second with 155 million obese citizens and are increasing at 33-51% every year. The International Diabetes Federation suggests that India has the largest number of people who suffer with type 2 diabetes at around 40.9 million people. Around 30% to 40% of cardiovascular deaths happen in India among the age group of 34–64 years of age.