Why are more and more young men suffering from lifestyle diseases?

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol are now hitting more young men in metropolitan cities of India, says a new survey released here Monday on the occasion of World Men's Health Week.

By: Editorial Team | | Published: June 17, 2014 11:52 am

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol are now hitting more young men in metropolitan cities of India, says a new survey released here Monday on the occasion of World Men’s Health Week. Despite rising awareness, more than half of the men in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai suffer from diabetes, according to a survey by Metropolis Healthcare. Of the 38,966 samples screened during June 9-15, 56.81 percent reported high diabetes levels.

Over 41.48 percent of the samples were in the age group of 20-40, indicating an increasing trend of younger population getting hit by diabetes. In another sample of 35,886 males, the survey found 8.21 percent with high cholesterol levels and 23.01 percent in the same age group with growing rate of cholesterol. High diabetes levels are usually associated with age, but other factors like body mass index, stress, family history of the disease, lack of physical activity etc. also significantly add to the problem. (Read: Lifestyle diseases on the rise in urban India)

Moreover, both diabetics and high-cholesterol patients are highly risk-prone to cardiovascular diseases besides other major health problems. The study suggested that besides regular screenings, people should go for preventive measures like reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, decreasing salt intake, among others. The study also unveiled a worrying trend of prostrate cancer. Of 20,054 samples tested for it, 4,064 samples showed marginally high risk of prostrate cancer. ‘Individuals have become more aware of the fact that heart disease is not just a disease of the elderly and are now a lot more determined to go a long way in combating this disease. ‘Regular screening of unhealthy cholesterol and lipid levels would help identify people who are at a greater risk of high cholesterol,’ said a statement from Metropolis Healthcare. (Read: Lifestyle diseases now a big problem in developing nations)

What is lifestyle disease?

Lifestyle diseases refer to diseases that result because of choices people make in their life. They are mostly common in developed nations where people are inclined towards eating unhealthy foods, having a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Common lifestyle diseases include heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, chronic liver disease, COPD, diabetes,stroke and osteoporosis . The risk of developing these diseases depend on a lot of factors including the type of work you do, your work environment, physical activity and your susceptibility to stress. Other contributing factors include poor posture, kind of foods you eat and poor sleeping habits. The good news is that lifestyle diseases can be prevented by making simple changes in daily routine and following a healthier way of living. Few basic changes include quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, having a balanced diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits, regular physical activity and leading a stress-free life. In this section, you’ll find articles on all diseases that are linked to your occupation as well as the way you live. You can also find practical changes that you can make to lead a healthy lifestyle.

With inputs from IANS

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Published : June 17, 2014 11:52 am

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