Diseases associated with the way people live are called lifestyle diseases. The list includes type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension and even cancer.
These diseases are not restricted to adults even kids are suffering from them. Improved technology and the socio-economic condition of people have changed the way we lead our life now. Most of the people are susceptible to lifestyle disorders and suffer from diseases that our grandparents have ever heard of back in 60s and 70s. However, most of these diseases can be prevented following healthy active lifestyle.
Let’s see some of the common types of lifestyle diseases:
Overweight or obesity: This is a very familiar term nowadays, but we tend to forget it. To check if you are already a prey, measure your BMI. If it is more than 25, you fall in the obese category. Unhealthy eating habits, reduced physical activities and stressful life all these factors contribute to obesity. People who are overweight suffer from breathing troubles, diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and others. And obesity is the first signal that your body provides of attracting other diseases.
Type II Diabetes: Obesity is one of the primary causes of type II diabetes. It happens when sugar level in blood increases due to body’s inability to utilize insulin. It develops mostly in adults but now increasing number of kids are affected. Poor eating habits and bad choices in lifestyle are the main causes behind diabetes. This disease may lead to strokes, heart attacks and several other health complications.
High blood pressure: Many people today suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. The increased level of blood pressure is mainly due to high level of stress, obesity and also increased amount of salt consumption. When the reading in blood pressure machine is higher than 140/90, you are suffering from hypertension. Once your pressure is high, you will feel severe discomfort. If you do not restrict high blood pressure on time with proper treatment it can cause a stroke.
Heart disease: The most common cause behind heart disease is the increased level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body. Consumption of junk foods and processed foods, smoking and drinking along with lack of exercise lead to heart diseases. Obesity can thicken the arterial blood vessel walls which loose elasticity and cause disruption in blood circulation. It further leads to chest pains and heart attacks. Not the aged people alone increasing number of young adults are also suffering from this disease.
Cancer: Stressful lifestyle that we lead now affects our body’s immunity to great extent. It destroys the power of white blood cells to fight the viruses that enters our body. Fr this reason there may be an irregular growth in cells that is concluded as cancer.
There are several other lifestyle diseases. However, with little changes in your daily routine you can control these diseases.
Ways to prevent lifestyle diseases:
- Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption
- Avoid junk foods and processed foods. Try to have well balanced meal
- Include 30 minutes of moderate exercise in your routine
- Build up healthy habits from childhood