Working hard, earning a living, saving money, and investing for the future are the building blocks of financial security that we meticulously lay. But hold on a sec, what about securing something just as important, our health and well-being?
In the midst of the bustling streets, soaking skyscrapers, and the palpable energy of urban life, lies a challenge that is silently gripping the urban Indian population. These adversaries have stealthily made their way into our lives, presenting a modern-day health dilemma that demands our attention.
Sadly, little importance is given to lifestyles. But just so you know, India is now officially in the danger zone. Research backed by ICMR says more than 1 in 10 people in India suffer from diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels.
Causes for these diseases:
As the name suggests, lifestyle diseases are caused by unhealthy daily habits and choices. The probable reason people ignore lifestyle diseases is that they take years to develop and worsen. You may even consider it as a slow poison that you never realised you took. If you are somebody who has a sedentary lifestyle and has poor eating habits, you are at risk. Even if you are a workaholic, it doesn’t spare you. A sedentary job that involves you sitting at your desk all day long makes you most prone. Unlike infectious diseases that result from external factors, lifestyle diseases are largely attributed to our own behaviours and lifestyle patterns. These ailments, which include heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and more, tend to develop gradually over time, often remaining undetected until they have established a significant presence within our bodies.
It includes a variety of factors:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Type of food, like spices or sugar
- Stress
- Sleep
- Alcohol consumption and smoking
- Exercise
Sedentary saga:
During those carefree days of childhood, the playground was our go-to place, and physical activity was a natural part of our lives. Nowadays, playgrounds have been replaced with office cubicles, and we neither exercise nor maintain a good diet due to the busy schedules of our lives. Dedicated to work, sitting in chairs or confined within the walls of an office has resulted in a significant decline in physical activity. The state of inactivity will lead to increased body weight, diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases, which impact their usual function.
Sugar:
The silent killer. Amidst the symphony of flavours, sugar had managed to secure a prominent spot on our plates. From the sweetness in our chai to the delectable desserts, sugar has quietly found its way into our daily diet. The growth in consumption of sugar-laden foods and beverages has led to a surge in diabetes cases, underscoring the need for a delicate balance between a balanced diet and nutrition count.
Stress and health relation:
Stress is a double-edged sword that can either motivate us or drain us. Our modern lifestyle is characterised by relentless schedules and overwhelming responsibilities, which often create chronic stress. While some stress can be a driving force, chronic exposure to it can lead to enormous health conditions like disturbance in sleep, blood pressure, diabetes, etc. It also enhances the risk of peptic ulcer.
Sleep:
Although sleep is a usual routine, it also plays a vital role in overall health. Even though having an eyeful of sleep, the quality of that is also matters. If you have slept late because of a hectic schedule or binge-watching a series or movie. It affects individuals’ energy levels as well as brain activity. As a consequence, this impairs the thought process of a person. So, it is necessary for everyone to maintain 8 hours of quality sleep.
Smoking and alcohol consumption:
These days, youth are habituated to these unhealthy habits. The habits being followed by the people have to face many consequences, not immediately. However, gradual exposure to it leads to several health problems. Chronic smoking enhances the free radicals in the body and leads to various types of cancers, lung diseases like COPD, asthma, etcetera. Due to long term alcohol consumption leads to different liver diseases, like fatty liver condition, liver cirrhosis.
Exercise:
It is necessary to maintain our body in the fittest version. For this, it not only requires equipment or hours of workout, but also 30 minutes in an entire day is enough. Due to the fact that increased incidence of various comorbid diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, exercise is one of the ways to prevent these types of diseases. However, it is helpful in improving brain activity, blood circulation, as well as heart health.