Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to reducing the burden of NCDs

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to reducing the burden of NCDs
• About 23% of those with NCDs are prone to premature death • One should aim at increasing daily physical activity
New Delhi, 20 September 2017: As per recent statistics, about 61% of deaths in India are now attributed to non-communicable diseases. This includes heart disorders, cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, about 23% of those with these diseases are prone to premature mortality. As per the IMA, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that there is not much progress on the fight against these chronic conditions in the country. Due to rapid urbanization, India is experiencing an epidemiological transition moving away from a predominantly communicable or infectious to a predominantly non-communicable disease pattern. Four risk factors responsible for the burden of NCDs are tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive consumption of alcohol. Some major metabolic risk factors include obesity, and raised blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood cholesterol levels. All these are behavioral risk factors and are modifiable through lifestyle changes. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “Modern and advanced technology has certainly made life easy and convenient for us – online shopping, online payments, accessing information, etc., all of which can be done from the comfort of our homes. What technology has done all of this at the cost of our health; we are less physically active now – sitting at a desk for a long time working on the computer, using social media on smart phones, watching TV or sitting in a meeting, all these activities promote sedentary behavior. The benefits of exercise on physical health as well as mental health are well-established and know to us all. But, the level of physical activity among all age groups has decreased, either due to lack of initiative or lack of safe open spaces. A heavy work schedule is often a deterrent to physical activity for many of us.” NCDs are not only a health problem but a development challenge as well. They force many people intopoverty as treatment for most of them is very expensive. They also have a large impact on undercutting productivity. Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “To control NCDs and promote physical activity, the IMA has proposed a campaign called ‘Move Move, and Move’. People should move around more often all through the day in addition to getting regular exercise. It is good to indulge in a brisk walk for 80 minutes a week with a speed of 80 steps per minute.” Many of these issues and the way forward will also be the key topics of discussion at the upcoming Perfect Health Mela being organized by HCFI, to be held from 4th to 8th October 2017 at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. IMA is the knowledge partner for the event. It is a must visit for those interested in learning more about preventive health and well-being. Here are a few simple ways to increase physical activity both at home and your workplace. • Take the stairs as often as possible. • Get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way. • Have “walk-meetings” instead of “sit-in” meetings. • Walk to the nearby shops instead of driving. • Stand up and walk while talking on the phone. • Walk down to speak to your colleague instead of using the intercom/phone. • Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch. • Buy a pedometer.

Deaths due to NCDs see an upward trend in the country

Deaths due to NCDs see an upward trend in the country IMA recommends following a healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset of these diseases New Delhi, 03 August 2017: As per recent statistics, premature deaths due to non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease have increased to 70% of all global deaths. This is up from the 42% incidence three years ago. As per the IMA, the burden of NCDs is on the rise in India, with one in four at risk of dying from the same before they reach the age of 70. An NCD is a medical condition or disease that is non-infectious and non-transmissible among people. The major NCDs are due to four behavioral risk factors: unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and use of tobacco and alcohol. Preventive action against NCDs in India is marred due to a lack of understanding their patterns, the prevalence, and the causes. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “NCDs are a health and developmental emergency today. They are driven by many external sources including rapid unplanned urbanization, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, and population ageing. The unhealthy diets that people follow today combined with the lack of physical activity can manifest in the form of high blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids, and obesity. Called metabolic risk factors, these can further lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading NCD and cause for premature deaths. Reducing the risk factors can help in controlling NCDs to a great extent.” A recent study has outlined that there is likely to be a steady rise in NCD losses until 2030, and then it will increase sharply. Adding to this, the value of life lost, including out-of-pocket expenditure related to these illnesses, and loss of income will likely double over the next 20 years. Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The medications available to treat most of the NCDs are not very expensive. However, the most effective strategies for reducing the burden of NCDs actually lie outside the health system. It is imperative to take measures such as regulation of advertising, improving access to healthier foods, reducing exposures to tobacco smoke, addressing dietary salt consumption, and encouraging physical activity to combat this group of ailments.” One can follow Dr KK’s Formula of 80 to prevent NCDs. • It is important to keep your fasting sugar lower than 80 mg % • It is best to refrain from consuming alcohol. For those who still wish to drink, they should restrict it to not more than 80 ml of alcohol in a day or 80 grams in a week • To not consume more than 80 grams of caloric solid or liquid food in one meal, rather eat frequent but small meals • Restrict your soft drink consumption to 80ml in one go. The tip is to add soda and dilute it to make it 200 ml • Do not consume tobacco products otherwise you will end up with a surgery bill of over Rs. 80,000 • It is important to keep one’s blood pressure lower than 80 mm Hg and heart rate lower than 80 per minute. • Do aerobic exercises for 80 minutes a week. • Do stretching exercises for 80 minutes in a week. • Consume at least 80 fruits and vegetables servings in a week. • Do not consume more than 80 ml/gram of ghee, oil and butter in a week.