Lifestyle Diseases and Its Prevention

Inherently linked to daily fitness and dietary control, lifestyle diseases like Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol should be actively avoided from an early age. Gone are the days when these were considered areas of interest for an older generation.

Ask yourself what causes you stress easily. It could be a work deadline, a heated argument, partner troubles, the list is endless. Though these may look like simple daily worries, experts suggest that it is these daily life events that trigger flight or fight reactions in the body, which in turn lead to debilitating mental conditions such as depression. A depressed person feels like a failure and sees little hope for an If you think that diabetes is an old man’s disease and you are safe from it, then we beg you to think again. Overweight, over-stressed and poor lifestyle observers are easy targets for this lifestyle disease, even at the young age of 20. While diabetes can be genetic, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) can be prevented by following a proper lifestyle. 

If you’ve been wondering about commonly used cholesterol terms like HDL and LDL, or good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, then you’ve come to the right place. For instance, did you know that cholesterol deposits in your lower body’s arteries could give you foot ulcers? 
That frequent headache you ignore could just be a migraine - headache that can affect anyone, anytime and anywhere. It is a painful condition that can interfere with your day-to-day activities. Though causes for migraine headaches are unknown, the symptoms can be made less severe and can even be prevented. 

Although India has been successful in managing communicable diseases like polio and cholera, the number of cases related to lifestyle diseases has increased drastically in recent times. The main factors responsible for this significant increase are unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, poor sleeping habits, smoking and susceptibility to stress. It is for this reason that our young population (adults and teenagers) is more prone to lifestyle diseases. The only way to prevent the progression of these diseases is through making some simple changes in your daily routine (lifestyle changes). 

Here are top 5 lifestyle diseases you should be aware of:
Type 2 diabetes:
Known as the diabetes capital of the world, India has 61.3 million people suffering from this dreadful lifestyle disease. Type 2 diabetes is caused due to high blood sugar levels in the body resulting from an inability to utilise insulin (hormone produced by the pancreas). One can easily prevent diabetes by effectively controlling its various risk factors such as smoking, obesity and inactive lifestyle. 

Heart disease:
The most common cause of heart disease is increased levels of cholesterol (LDL – low density lipoprotein) and triglycerides in the body. Consumption of processed foods and junk foods, smoking and drinking coupled with a lack of exercise is the main reason why an increasing number of people, including younger adults are suffering from heart diseases. 

Hypertension:
More than 100 million individuals living in India suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. The increased blood pressure levels (more than 120/80 mm Hg) in the body are caused mainly due to increased intake of salt, high stress levels and obesity. People suffering from hypertension are at increased risk of other health complications like diabetes and heart disease. 

Obesity:
Obesity is a detrimental disease condition which makes you more susceptible to other lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Indians, especially the younger generation are at a higher risk of developing this metabolic syndrome due to unhealthy eating, smoking, alcohol consumption, inactivity, stress and lack of sleep. There is nothing like an ideal weight for people unless one can maintain a healthy weight and lead an active lifestyle to prevent obesity and other health issues. 

Cancer:
Although genetic factors are a large determinant in your risk for cancer, smoking and unhealthy eating habits are known to be the biggest culprits, increasing your risk of suffering from this deadly disease. One can lower their chances of developing cancer by following some preventive measures like eating healthy foods (rich in omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants), maintaining a healthy weight, quit smoking and drink only in moderation. 

Prevention:
Lifestyle diseases are preventable for children if parents set them on the correct path, as our early life decisions and influences can impact us later on in life. Lifestyle diseases can be prevented through reduction in smoking of tobacco. Overweight and obesity can be prevented through a well balanced lifestyle through healthy eating and exercise. Prevention can come about by a person undertaking 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily or by doing 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week. Examples of moderate exercise includes a brisk walk, swim, bike ride or it can also be everyday life activities like mowing the lawn or house cleaning. All causes of lifestyle disease can be prevented through giving up smoking and other drugs, reducing ones intake of alcohol, processed meats (like bacon and sausages), red meats (like pork, beef and lamb), fatty foods and by engaging in daily exercise.

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