LIFESTYLE DISEASES: An Economic Burden on the Health Services Lifestyle diseases share risk factors similar to prolonged exposure to three modifiable lifestyle behaviours -- smoking, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity -- and result in the development of chronic diseases, specifically heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and some types of cancer. These illnesses used to be considered the diseases of industrialized countries, so-called "Western diseases" or "diseases of affluence"; however, internationally they are known as non-communicable and chronic diseases, part of the degenerative diseases group. Chronic disease can result in loss of independence, years of disability, or death, and impose a considerable economic burden on health services. Today, chronic diseases are a major public health problem worldwide. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 61 per cent of all deaths -...
Posts
CAUSE AND PREVENTION
What Causes Lifestyle Diseases and Can They Be Prevented? Don't fall victim to lifestyle diseases A lifestyle disease is a disease linked to the way a person is living. Lifestyle diseases result in chronic diseases or non-communicable diseases. [1] These terms are often used interchangeably. It is possible to reduce your risk of lifestyle diseases. Common lifestyle diseases include heart disease, stroke, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and more. [2] One major contributing factor to developing some of these diseases is how we live; in fact, our lifestyle primarily controls our risk of developing such diseases. Luckily, because we can change how we live, we could reduce our risk of developing such diseases by … well, changing our lifestyle: the foods we eat (or don’t eat), our exercise habits, stress levels, etc. In fact, our lifestyle is what primarily controls our risk of developing such diseases. Of course, the saying “easier said than done” rings true here. Changing our l...
Recommendations on a healthy lifestyle for Indians:
WC Cut-offs for Asian Indians: Action level 1: Men: 78 cm, women: 72 cm. Any person with WC above these levels should avoid gaining weight and maintain physical activity to avoid acquiring cardiovascular risk factors. These action level 1 cut-off need to be researched further. Action level 2: Men: 90 cm, women: 80 cm. Subjects with WC above this should seek medical help so that obesity-related risk factors can be investigated and managed. Recommendations on a healthy lifestyle for Indians: Avoid extended periods of physical inactivity. Brisk walking is an excellent initial mode of exercise. In general, a total of 60 minutes of physical activity is recommended every day; this includes aerobic activity, work-related activity, and muscle-strengthening activity. Person can accumulate physical activity throughout the day in blocks as short as 10 minutes. Work-related activity should be encouraged wherever possible. A dose-response relationship exists between activity and health; the mo...
LIFE STYLE DISEASES AND AYURVEDA
How to prevent lifestyle diseases with the help of Ayurveda? Ayurvedic is a holistic science and being 5000 years old and traditional system of medicines, Ayurveda has potency to prevent the diseases developed due to poor lifestyle habits. As per Ayurveda, Health is the state of equilibrium established between Tridoshas (vata, pitta and kapha), Dhatu, Agni and mala with blissful mind, body and soul. All we have to do is to follow and adapt tips and measures given in Ayurveda to improve life quality and live a healthy life. Dincharya (Daily Routine) Link between Dincharya and diseases. Necessity of Dincharya in preventing lifestyle diseases. By following the Dincharya system, we can reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases to a certain extent. Link between Dincharya and disease As per Vagbhata Acharya, the main reasons of development of diseases are improper or excessive participation of: Kaal-Ritu (six seasons), Artha-Shabda sprashadi indriyartha and Karma- Manasik, Vachik, kay...