HEALTHY LIVING

In India, chronic diseases were the reason for 53% of all the deaths in 2005. Of these 29% were due to cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular diseases includes heart attacks, coronary artery disease and strokes. It is estimated that, by 2020, cardiovascular disease will be the largest cause of disability and death, as a proportion of all deaths in India.
India already has the largest number of people with diabetes in the world! India is the diabetes capital of the world. The occurrence of diabetes in urban Indians is 2nd highest in the world; approximately 12% of the adults develop diabetes!. Not only this, Indians succumb to diabetes and heart attacks 5-10 years earlier than their western counterparts. This means that most indians succumb to heart attacks, strokes and diabetes in their most productive years, when they are 40-50 years, when they are rising in their jobs, when they are peaking in their careers, when much of the family responsibility is on them, rather than their western counterparts who develop it at retirement, at 60-65 years. This will lead to huge economic burdens on the country. All this is due to the fact that Indians consume less of fresh fruits and vegetables, consume more tobacco, consume more unhealthy diets and are more sedentary than their western counterparts. In 2003 alone, in India, there were approx. 30 million people suffering from chronic heart disease.
The major risk factors causing heart attacks, diabetes and strokes are: high blood pressure, high concentration of cholesterol in the blood, inadequate fresh fruits and vegetable consumption everyday, overweight/ obesity and greater use of tobacco. Five of these 6 major risk factors are due to unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are thus amongst the leading causes of major diseases like coronary heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis. One third of all cancers too can be prevented by embracing a healthy diet, decreasing saturated fats in the diet, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and increasing physical activity levels.
Largest number of tobacco related deaths is also due to heart attacks. Tobacco kills more people than accidents and AIDS put together. In India, tobacco contributes to 56.4% and 44.9% of cancers in men and women, respectively. India has the largest number of oral cancer cases in the world! It is estimated that India as compared to any other country will have the fastest rise in tobacco related deaths each year!

There is also a reversal of the socio-economic trend for cardiovascular disease and diabetes; the poor and the disadvantaged sections of our population have an equal or higher risk of cardiovascular disease and risk factors. To add to this is their unawareness and inappropriate understanding about chronic disease. More than one third of the population with risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure are not even aware of it!

Through this website we target the major causes of majority of the diseases in India and scientifically prevent them. Additionally, the section on hygiene will help prevent many of the communicable disease/infectious diseases that plague the everyday lives of people today.

PREVENTION IS POWERFUL!

Healthy eating habits and increased physical
activity alone can
Reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 58%
Reduce the risk of developing high blood
pressure by 66%
Reduce the risk of developing heart attacks
and stroke by 40-60%

Diseases which can be prevented through lifestyle intervention

Diseases which can be prevented through lifestyle intervention

	Prevent High blood pressure		Prevent Heart attacks
	Prevent Angina		Prevent Diabetes
	Prevent Renal failure		Prevent Loss of vision due to retinal problems,
	Prevent Early cataract		Prevent Amputations of foot
	Prevent Liver failure		Prevent Strokes
	Prevent Paralysis		Prevent Cancer of the mouth
	Prevent Cancer of the tongue		Prevent Cancer of the throat
	Prevent Cancer of the cheek		Prevent Cancer of the food pipe
	Prevent Cancer of the stomach		Prevent Cancer of the voice box
	Prevent Cancer of the large intestine		Prevent Cancer of the colon
	Prevent Cancer of the breast		Prevent Cancer of the lungs
	Prevent Iodine deficiency thyroid problems		Prevent porous bones
	Prevent fractures in old age		Prevent falls in old age
	Prevent joint problems		Prevent looking older than your age
	Prevent depression and dementia		Prevent Diarrhoea, infections
	Prevent Heart failure, irregular heart beats

Prevent 31 diseases by doing 3+1 things

STROKE

How can you prevent strokes?

Know your own blood pressure . Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year, and, if it is elevated, treat it diligently, to keep it under control.
If you smoke, stop; If you chew tobacco or snuff tobacco, stop immediately .
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
Include exercise in your daily routine.
Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet.
Eat whole grains and whole pulses.
Ask your physician if you have circulatory problems that could increase the risk of stroke; Find out from your doctor, whether you have atrial fibrillation, which encourages the formation of blood clots that could cause a stroke.
Find out if you have high cholesterol; If you do, then, lower it by lifestyle changes like regular exercise and change in diet. If despite the lifestyle changes being adopted the levels persist to be high then think of medication to lower your cholesterol.
If you have diabetes, follow your doctors' advice to control the condition.
Eat 10-40 gms of unsalted non-fried nuts everyday.
If you are recovering from illness or a surgery and are in bed, then make sure you exercise your legs by raising it up and down 10-15 times every day.


If you experience any stroke symptoms, including sudden weakness of the face or a limb, a blurring of vision, dizziness, or an intense headache, seek immediate medical attention.

PREVENT STROKES!

PREVENT STROKES!
Anyone can have a stroke. Make sure that you keep away from this situation by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

• Keep your blood pressure well under control.
• If you smoke, stop; If you chew tobacco or snuff tobacco stop immediately.
• If you have a family history of stroke get regular checkups done.
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly.

What is a stroke?

A stroke means that part of the brain is suddenly damaged. If an artery in the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot (known as thrombus) it causes a stroke. If an artery in the brain leaks then too it damages the brain and causes a stroke. Atheroma is also known as 'atherosclerosis' or 'hardening of the arteries'. Patches of atheroma are also called 'plaques' of atheroma. Patches of atheroma are like small fatty lumps that develop within the inside lining of arteries (blood vessels).The blood clot usually forms over some atheroma. A temporary lack of blood supply to a part of the brain is known as TIA or transient ischemic attack.