Last updated on October 16th, 2024 at 03:33 pm
Today India, like other countries, is fighting against the Corona pandemic, but do you know that other than this corona pandemic, many non-communicable diseases are fastly growing in India? India is turning into a country where its citizens are vulnerable to many diseases, especially chronic ones. Well, this is not only happening in India, but the whole world is suffering from this.
Chronic diseases are long-term diseases that take longer to develop and cause any significant harm to the body. Chronic diseases impair an individual’s immune system as well as other body functions. Approximately more than 20% of the country’s population is suffering from at least one non-communicable or chronic disease (NCDs). According to WHO, about 38 million people worldwide are affected by non-communicable diseases or chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disorders, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. This means that 1 in 4 Indians have a risk of dying from an NCD before they reach the age of 70.
Of all of India’s chronic diseases, here are 5 conditions having a greater presence, and more reported cases:
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Top 5 common and chronic diseases in India
1. Diabetes
Diabetes has made India the capital of the world that houses the largest numbers of diabetic patients. Everyone thinks that diabetes occurs due to excessive intake of glucose. But, one gets affected due to excessive consumption of package or junk goods and carbohydrates, genetic susceptibility, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes is more of a hormonal condition where the body can not properly use/produce an insulin hormone that helps remove glucose in our food to turn it into energy.
Diabetes has been classified into two types, based on the inability to use or produce insulin: Type I and Type II or prediabetics (elevated blood sugar but certainly in limits). Common signs of both forms include excessive urination, persistent thirst or need for water, tiredness, weight gain or loss, and slow healing of cuts and sores, blurred vision. High levels of unchecked bloodstream glucose can damage the kidneys, skin, nerves, and may even cause cardiac arrest. Here, the age spectrum is between 20 to 80 years.
For prevention, regular workout-approximately 30 minutes, high intake of water, fruits and salads, and low intake of sugar or refined, and lastly active lifestyle is necessary.
2. Poor heart conditions
Heart disease is a term that covers almost all instances that affect the heart and prevent its optimal functioning. It ranges from elevated blood pressure to major coronary heart disease in India, which causes premature death. The most common in this category is hypertension, or high blood pressure that has two subcategories. One, the primary hypertension; appearing to develop over several years slowly without any identifiable source. In contrast, certain medical conditions cause secondary hypertension.
Conditions affecting your kidneys, lungs, heart, or endocrine system may cause secondary hypertension. After that, coronary artery disease is another heart condition that is common amongst Indians and a dangerous life-taker. The common cause of coronary artery disease is plaque deposits containing cholesterol. Apart from these other causes, one artery is partially or fully blocked, restricting, or blocks blood passage.
Like diabetes, high Blood Pressure (BP) is also known as the silent killer. However, it shows some signs such as left-armed pain and chest pain that may be confused due to indigestion, shortness of breath, heartburn, and nausea/vomiting, back pain, etc. Coronary artery disease has no signs, leading to a heart attack being the first sign of this condition.
Cautions:
In the case of moderate hypertension patients, improvements in lifestyle such as daily exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing salt intake, reducing fat intake, etc. should be considered before taking any drug.
3. Cholesterol
Today, 79% of Indians suffer from high cholesterol which is one of India’s leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. An abnormality in lipid levels can contribute to the thickening of the arteries and leading to heart attacks. High cholesterol triggers the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol that carries cholesterol particles throughout your body and builds up plaque in walls of arteries, making it hard and narrow. Some of the reasons that create LDL are poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, etc.
High cholesterol is another silent killer that does not show any symptoms; only blood tests can reveal it. Prevention is a balanced diet low in saturated and trans-fat, regular exercise, less alcohol consumption, and no smoking.
4. PCOS
Poly Cystic Ovary syndrome/condition (PCOS from here on) is an ovarian cyst that has grown highly under 20 years. PCOS develops cysts that form a lining over the ovaries, preventing an egg from ejection or fertilization. People with acute PCOS may have as little as eight cycles in a year.
Insulin resistance, genes, or obesity are known causes for PCOS. It affects a woman’s body’s hormonal balance, leading to missed periods, chest, back, and face acne, and face and breast hair growth.
PCOS treatment typically starts with improvements in lifestyle such as weight loss, diet, and exercise. So, better to do it as prevention than treatment; otherwise, one has to bound herself with medication.
5. Cancer
Cancer is lethal because it not only resides in the region organs involved but may also be invasive and spread to other areas of the body. The most common cancers are prostate cancer in Indian men and breast cancer in women. However, breast cancer is second-highest cancer; the first is pelvic cancer to being the most common chronic disease among women.
According to research, about 1,00,000 women per year had breast cancer, and 10 percent per 1,00,00 men suffer from prostate cancer. There are no specific causes of cancers. However, early detection can be helpful in some instances. Breast cancer usually shows symptoms like a breast lump, change in size and form, pigmented or crusted skin, redness, and tingling. While prostate cancer usually delivers pain during urination or ejaculation, blood in urine, weight loss, or fatigue.
Prevention here is an adoption of a healthy lifestyle because indulgence of a sedentary lifestyle has been seen common amongst cancer patients.
Conclusion
These are the most common chronic diseases developing at certain ages. Therefore, it becomes essential for individuals to stay cautious and prevent such chronic illnesses by maintaining your overall health. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management are keys to a healthy life.
