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The rising cases of chronic illnesses have put the spotlight on various non-communicable diseases in India. With a share of 60% of all deaths in India, non-communicable diseases are breaking records while striking people of all ages. Specifically, heart diseases and hypertension account for 45% of deaths, while respiratory diseases and cancer cause 22% and 12% of deaths in India annually.
Thus, it becomes essential to understand the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in India and their causes, symptoms, and preventive measures.
What are Non-Communicable Diseases?
Non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, are a group of illnesses that affect the body for an extended period while attacking the major organs and their functioning. Also known as chronic diseases, NCDs develop gradually within the body rather than spreading from person to person. Due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle imbalances, non-communicable ailments can affect anyone—from younger children to adults and senior citizens.
Without any visible symptoms at early stages, it is difficult to detect if a person suffers from non-communicable diseases. That explains why NCDs are the number one reason behind most deaths and disabilities worldwide. The worst part is some types of non-communicable illnesses develop slowly over time, while most of them may spread rapidly– lowering the chances of survival. This means that most people who appear to be healthy may be suffering from non-communicable diseases without any knowledge.
Let’s dig deeper into the types of non-communicable diseases while studying their causes and symptoms.
List Of Non Communicable Disease In India
Some of the most common examples of non-communicable diseases in India include:
- Cardiovascular or heart diseases
- Cerebrovascular diseases or stroke
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Common Cancers (Cervical, Breast, and Oral)
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases, like Asthma
- Tooth Decay/ cavities
- Gum Diseases
- Mental Health Conditions, and
- Major Injuries like Burns, crashes, falls, etc.
All these diseases result from prolonged unhealthy habits, with tobacco and alcohol consumption being the key critical factors. Besides, unhealthy lifestyles, physical inactivity, and adverse social conditions are also factors aggravating non-communicable illnesses. Knowing about the causes and signs of chronic diseases early on is essential to prevent them early on.
Causes and Symptoms of Non-Communicable Diseases
Most non-communicable diseases are caused by unhealthy habits like smoking, poor diet, high-cholesterol food consumption, stressful working conditions, and some genetic factors. Let’s take a look at the top 12 causes and symptoms of the most widely-spread non-communicable diseases in India:
| Disease | Causes | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertension | Advancing age, family history, lack of physical activity | Severe headache, Frequent discomfort while eating, blurry vision, weakness, or dizziness |
| Diabetes | Unhealthy eating habits, addictions to smoking, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol, obesity and hypertension | Frequent urge to urinate, increased hunger and thirst, extreme tiredness and blurred vision |
| Heart Attack & Stroke | Family History of stroke, certain medicines that increase the risk of stroke, stress, isolation, and depression | Intense pain and pressure feeling in the chest, discomfort or pain in upper body parts like arm, neck, or jaw, shortness of breath or unconsiousness |
| Cervical Cancer | HPV infection, smoking, poor sexual hygiene | Vaginal bleeding between periods, unsually longer or heavier menstrual cycle, post-menopausal bleeding |
| Oral Cancer | Consumption of tobacco or pan, smoking, poor oral hygiene | Mouth ulcers persisting for more than three weeks, persistent pain in mouth, a lump or thickening cheek |
As harmful as the symptoms are, the consequences of non-communicable illnesses can be unbearable – from prolonged illness to death. The stats reveal that cervical and breast cancer are the most prevalent types of cancer, spreading rapidly among Indian women. Also, the fact that the Indian mortality rate accounts for one-fourth of all deaths due to cardiovascular diseases.
Difference Between Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
To understand chronic ailments better, let’s decode the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases based on these factors:
| Parameters | Communicable Illnesses | Non-communicable Illnesses |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Communicable illnesses are caused by bacteria and viruses and spread from person to person | Non-communicable diseases are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. NCDs do not spread from person to person |
| Causes | Pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi; Spread through air, infected water, bodily fluids, animals, insect bites, contaminated water, and food | Unhealthy environments, lifestyle habits, and genetic issues; Develop within a person over time |
| Symptoms | Fever, cough, cold, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, chills, and weakness | Vomiting, unconsciousness, pain and discomfort in the chest or other body parts |
| Example | COVID-19, Ebola, HIV, hepatitis, and influenza | Heart-related diseases, blood pressure, high sugar levels, arthritis, cancer, etc. |
| Treatment Time | Within a week or two | Require prolonged care and control to cure |
Also Read: 7 Most Common Communicable Diseases in India
How to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases?
While several risk factors lead to chronic ailments, people can follow timely preventive measures to ensure safety. Here are some helpful prevention tips for non-communicable diseases:
- Undergo routine full body check-ups
- Adopt healthy lifestyle habits like a balanced diet and proper sleep.
- Indulge in increased physical activity and do regular exercise
- Go for regular screening and diagnostic tests to ensure early detection
- Stay aware of habits or foods that may cause critical illnesses.
10 Ways to Prevent Non-communicable Diseases
Here are 10 most essential lifestyle changes that can keep all the critical illnesses at bay:
- Balanced Diet: Ignoring a healthy diet is the most significant factor behind deteriorating health. The most fundamental aspect of a healthy lifestyle is eating a balanced diet. There are many ways to get a balanced diet, such as creating a diet chart. Yet, people are confused about how a balanced diet can be taken. Following the food pyramid is the best way to chart a diet plan. According to the food pyramid, you should consume adequate cereals, millet, pulses, fruits, and veggies. However, animal foods such as meat, fish, and eggs should be taken moderately, and oils and sugars should be taken in relatively meagre amounts. Junk food should be sparingly eaten or should be avoided.
- Control Obesity: It is universally known that obesity is the root cause of all cardiovascular diseases. It is thus essential to diagnose the symptoms of overweight/obesity. The most effective way to do so is to measure the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Waist Circumference (WC). Given below is the formula for BMI:
BMI = Weight (in kg)/Height (in meter2)
The usual range of BMI for Asian Indian adults is 18 – 22.9 kg/m2
Similarly, the typical ranges of Waist Circumference are given below:
- Less than or equal to 90 cm in men.
- Less than or equal to 80 cm in women.
- Physical Activity: It is crucial to regularly indulge yourself in vigorous exercise involving muscle movement and energy use. This helps burn fat and prevents coagulation of the arteries, reducing the chances of cardiovascular diseases. An average adult should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. You can accomplish this goal by exercising at least 30 minutes during your five working days. You may practise brisk walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, aerobics, playing outdoor sports, and yoga. You should also do meditation to keep your mind calm and increase concentration and optimism.
- Live Tobacco-free: Consuming tobacco in any form, whether smoked in cigarettes, cigars, hookah, chilam or bidi or in smokeless forms like gutkha, zarda, khaini, kiwam or snuff use is injurious to health. It causes various diseases of the heart, respiratory system (such as tuberculosis), and kidney, as well as oral cancer and other malignant disorders. Moreover, it also reduces the sperm count in men. Hence, you should never consume tobacco in any form.
- Limit Alcohol Consumption: There is no doubt that alcohol has been widely consumed in India for ages. However, its harmful use has increased in recent decades since people are taking it in uncontrolled quantities. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to various damage to various organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, food pipe, and throat, and can also cause cancers of the breast, kidney and liver.
- Stay Hydrated: Since 66% of an adult human body is composed of water, it is crucial to maintain this level of hydration for normal body functioning and metabolism. Not drinking water in sufficient quantities leads to dehydration and has an adverse impact on health. Hence, it's important to drink 3.7 litres of water for men and 2.7 litres for women to avoid dehydration.
- Get Rid of Stress: No matter how lightly people may take it, but the little bit of stress that you carry everyday inside your head acts as a slow poison that drives you towards cardiovascular illnesses and other health problems. You should get rid of stress by indulging yourself in physical activity and doing meditation.
- Practice Yoga & Meditation: Yog or yoga is a way of life that makes you eternally healthy and away from diseases and health problems. It involves various exercises that improve your flexibility, muscular strength and blood circulation and boost your immunity. Meditation is another name for continuous thought. It is a crucial part of yoga, which helps you improve your focus, reduce stress, and stay alert. Yoga & Meditation helps improve your physical and mental well-being and keep all health issues at bay.
- Regularly Monitor Blood Pressure and Sugar level: While implementing all the necessary measures to improve your health, it is important to keep regular track of Blood pressure and sugar levels.
- Never Ignore Your Sleep: In today’s workaholic lifestyle, people often forget to get enough sleep at night, which results in hypertension and depression. Hence, you should never ignore your sleep. An average adult should take at least 7 hours of sound sleep at night.
>>Also Read: what is the importance of health insurance?
Secure Your Family Against Non-Communicable Diseases with Care Insurance
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- Comprehensive annual health check-ups
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- No-claim bonus
- Recharge of sum insured, and
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So, the time is now for prevention against life-threatening chronic diseases. Opt for the right health insurance for non-communicable diseases by Care Insurance to secure your today and tomorrow.
Disclaimer: Please verify the policy details and coverage with the official policy documents. Also, kindly consult a professional medical expert to verify the details of health concerns.
