Life-Style Disorders – Indian Scenario

While two-third of working women suffer from lifestyle diseases, 53 per cent of them skip meals and go for junk food due to work pressure and deadlines.
According to a survey conducted by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), 68 per cent of working women in the age bracket of 21-52 years were found to be afflicted with lifestyle ailments such as obesity, depression, chronic backache, diabetes and hypertension.

The report further said that as 27 per cent of females in urban India were employed, their health issues are a major concern both for society and business
The study 'Preventive Healthcare and Corporate Female Workforce' also said that long hours and working under strict deadlines cause up to 75 per cent of working women to suffer from depression or general anxiety disorder, compared to women with lesser levels of psychological demands at work.

Women employed in sectors that demand more time such as media, knowledge process outsourcing and touring jobs are unable to take leave when unwell, and force themselves to work mainly due to job insecurity, especially during the current financial meltdown, the report said. However, it said, factors such exposure to industrial pollutants and environmental toxins, poor quality of sleep, lack of exercise, sunlight exposure, poor nutrition, excessive intake of alcohol and drug abuse also cause depression.
Highlighting the fact that women play vital and multiple roles, especially those who are employed, the report stressed on the need for a balance to be maintained by them both at home and workplace.

"Ignorance of healthcare can have multiple implications on her surrounding environment such as her family, workplace and social network," the study. "Over 77 per cent of respondents said they avoided routine check-ups," the report stated indicating that the hectic schedule of balancing workplace and home, along with balancing between social and personal requirements lead to women ignoring their health.
The report further stated that 47 per cent of respondents spent less than Rs 500 on healthcare in a year, while 22 per cent spent in the range of Rs 500-Rs 5,000 as they suffer ailments such as obesity, depression and spondylosis. Over 29 per cent of respondents were found to be spending between Rs 5,000-Rs 50,000 on healthcare annually. However, most of these respondents were found afflicted with high or low blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases, asthma, urinary infection and arthritis.

President Smt Pratibha Patil insisted the medical community to evolve a comprehensive strategy to tackle the emerging threat of lifestyle diseases. Inaugurating the 1,500-bed SevenHills Hospital, Mumbai, billed as the largest private sector health care facility in Asia, Patil said lifestyle-related ailments like diabetes and heart diseases, with their impact on loss of economic output, merited a multi-pronged strategy for preventive measures.
"A comprehensive approach is needed to combat the increasing prevalence of these lifestyle diseases. Our health system, must assume the responsibility of not only treating people, but also advising and guiding them about how to deal with and prevent some of these medical conditions," she said.
"Regular campaigns should be organised by the government and institutions to create awareness on a wide scale," she added.

The president pointed out that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned that India could emerge as the diabetes capital of the world.
There are around 42 million diabetics in the country currently, and it is estimated that this figure will almost double and rise to 80 million by 2030, she said.
Besides, the Cardiological Society of India has estimated that the country is likely to have a 100 million heart patients or nearly 60 percent of the world's total heart patients by 2020.
All this has led WHO to calculate that diabetes and heart disease in India will mean a loss of about USD 335 billion over the next 10 years, the president said.