TOI dated 10th Sept 08 carried an article titled "5 AILMENTS THAT ARE KILLING MUMBAI"!
5 leading doctors have been interviewed and they have offered tips to prevent these. Why Mumbai alone? These ailments are killing millions across the globe.
Read on...
9 out of 10, most common causes of death fall under the umbrella of LIFESTYLE DISEASES. Only one is infection!
High BP, Diabetes, abnormal lipid levels in blood (ie cholesterol & triglycerides) Obesity, Sedentary life style, bad dietary habits, smoking or smokeless use of tobacco, excess consumption of alcohol, stress and living life in the fast lane all are important risk factors for
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
- Chronic Kidney failure
- Blindness
- Cancer
- Cirrhosis of liver and
- HIV.
HIV, although a viral infection is acquired through faulty life style ie unprotected sex with multiple partners.
All these silent killers (largely asymptomatic till it has caused major organ damage) are
- slow growing ailments
- have multiple causative factors (risk factors)
- cause chronic changes in body and
- cripple / disable more than they kill (the Indian psyche of - Main Maut se nahin darta - is of no use here as people wish to die but alas no death....
With the above knowledge, all modern day killers are
- Preventable (healthy lifestyles viz balanced diet, regular physical exercise and controlling stress in addition to stopping smoking and alcohol in moderation)
- Detectable (periodic health checks and acting on the abnormalities found)
- Controllable (once detected, proper control and monitoring with changing faulty lifestyle ) and
- Treatable (adhering to conventional, researched therapies rather than running after tall claims and fast cures).
Healthy Life Styles will always ensure less suffering and a longer, productive and a better quality of life.
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