There is an intimate connection between a person’s lifestyle and his health. A disciplined and regular lifestyle forms the basis of a healthy and disease-free life. In contrast, an irregular and distorted lifestyle proves very harmful in the long run as the body slowly gets inflicted with many life-threatening diseases.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released a report titled ‘India: Health of the Nation’s States’ (July 2, 2019). The report says that deaths due to lifestyle diseases increased from 37.9% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016 – meaning that more than 61% of deaths in India are due to conditions caused by lifestyle disorders.
The data of Phase I of the new National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indicates that most states show a sharp rise in obesity. In 18 of the 22 states and UTs, more than one in five women and one in five men are now either overweight or obese, meaning she or he has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than or equal to 25 kilos per square meter. More prosperous states like Kerala and Goa have the highest blood sugar rates. In Kerala, over a quarter of all adult men and women have high blood sugar. The report further highlights that, in all the 22 states and UTs, around a quarter of the adult male population on average has elevated blood pressure or taking medication to control it. Harmful food habits, stressful lifestyles, and lack of sufficient physical activity are among the main reasons for this.
Another disease associated with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure is arteriosclerosis, which causes the hardness of arteries and reduces their suppleness. This leads to disruption in blood flow, heartache, and even heart attacks. Heart diseases are the most dangerous of all lifestyle diseases. Any irregularities that affect the heart’s arterial walls or muscles fall into the category of heart diseases. India has the highest number of patients with various heart diseases, with over five crore patients. The main reason for this is the habit of smoking, diabetes, and high levels of cholesterol. 26% of deaths in India happen due to heart diseases.
10 Crore people in India suffer from the disease of high blood pressure. The main reason for this, in addition to obesity and hereditary factors, is unhealthy eating habits. When BP exceeds 140/90, it is regarded as the condition of high blood pressure. When BP rises, even more, a person experiences heightened uneasiness and headache. Almost 11% of women and 15 % of men between 15 to 49 years of age are patients of high BP. High BP, if not treated correctly and on time, can even lead to a heart attack. It can also lead to blood clotting, which can obstruct blood flow to a part of the brain, reducing oxygen supply there and leading to stroke.
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results. – Anthony Robbins”
Another lifestyle disorder is Swimmer’s Ear which occurs when headphones are used for long periods at high volumes. According to a study, about 12.5% of people lose their hearing due to constant exposure to high levels of sound, and this number is growing at a fast pace.Cancer is also a deadly disease, which in 70 to 90% of cases is linked to lifestyle disorder. India had 13.3 lakh cancer patients in 2014, and this number increased to 15.2 lakhs in 2017. In the stressful life of today, our immunity and capability to fight diseases are reducing continuously. Due to this, when cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner, cancer develops. Many factors cause cancer. Smoking for a long time causes lung cancer, and excessive exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer. Air pollution, consuming alcohol and tobacco are the primary causes of cancer.
Excessive consumption of alcohol causes cirrhosis which is a disease of the liver. Drinking alcohol has become a severe lifestyle disorder. Due to stress in daily life, people have started consuming excessive alcohol.
Mental diseases are also, to a large extent, caused by lifestyle disorders. In our country, around one crore people suffer from mental illnesses and need medical attention. Lack of social support and good nutrition, and financial instability are the leading causes of mental ailments. Several research studies have also found a connection between environment and mental health. Air pollution adversely affects mental health.
In 2016, there were 3.5 crore people affected by asthma. In Delhi, every third child suffers from some form of a lung ailment. Air pollution is a cause of 30% of untimely deaths. All these diseases are becoming a grave concern for human society. Now the question arises – Is it possible to prevent or control these lifestyle diseases? The answer is in the affirmative. They can be prevented in the first stage and contained in later stages also if lifestyles are appropriately regulated.
To address lifestyle disorder-related issues, we must first pay attention to our food habits. As far as possible, our food should be simple, nutritious, and natural. Give priority to seasonal fruits and vegetables. Avoid excess salt and sugar. Use jaggery instead of sugar and rock salt instead of ordinary salt. These small changes directly reduce the susceptibility to heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes. A sound sleep of 7-8 hours daily is essential because sleep enhances the body’s energy levels, capacity to make decisions, and self-confidence to face adverse circumstances.
Sleeping for very few hours and sleeping excessively increase stress levels and irritability and lead to distorted lifestyles. Take out some time for exercise in the morning hours. Regular walking, yogasanas, Pragya yoga, or other simple exercises could be included in this.The direct benefits of reduction in weight, increase in energy levels, and enhanced freshness will be visible in just a few days of exercise. Gradually the duration of exercises can be increased. If the weight of a person is more than required, then the physical activity must be included in the daily routine. It has been found that a reduction of weight by 10% brings down blood pressure and cholesterol, and the person begins to feel much better.Simple steps can be taken like walking up to the office instead of driving or parking one’s vehicle at a distance from the workplace so that walking becomes necessary. Use stairs instead of the lift. Clean the home and garden instead of remaining glued to TV or mobile. If the office is not too far, go on a bicycle.
It has also been established by research that the habits of spending most of the time in the office or home in a sitting position are very harmful to health. Time spent sitting should be reduced, and we must stand for 5 minutes in between.
Always start the day with two glasses of water, preferably lukewarm. Water helps in removing undigested parts of the food from our bodies. It cleanses inner organs, which then helps to absorb the nutritional elements of the consumed food. It helps in reducing weight and in controlling the habit of overeating. It creates a glow in the body, helps regulate body
temperature through sweat, and aids cells’ regeneration in the body.
Our state of mind is also very important. We need to maintain a positive mental and emotional state. For this, we need to associate ourselves with what makes us happy, search for what obstructs us in attaining happiness, and then put in the best efforts to remove them. It is essential to be with oneself and hold on to and maintain a good rhythm of life. A healthy and balanced lifestyle is an effective method to prevent disorders that may disrupt the flow of life.
Why not walk upstairs?Walking on streets and trails is superb for health. And so is walking upstairs. Coaches, cardiologists, and homemakers have long been in on the secret of stairs. … What’s so special about the stairs? Researchers in Canada answered the question by monitoring 17 healthy male volunteers with an average age of 64 while they walked, lifted weights, or climbed stairs. Stair climbing was the most demanding. It was twice as taxing as brisk walking on the level and 50% harder than walking up a steep incline or lifting weights. Because stairs are so taxing, only the very young at heart should attempt to charge up long flights. But at a slow, steady pace, stairs can be a health plus for the rest of us. Begin modestly with a flight or two, and then add more as you improve. Even at a slow pace, you’ll burn calories two to three times faster climbing stairs than walking briskly on the level. [From: Harvard Health Publishing (Harvard Medical School)]“What drains your spirit drains your body. What fuels your spirit fuels your body. – Caroline Myss”
Source: Akhand Jyoti Magazine Mar-Apr 2021
