Live Healthy! A call to Action
Dr Parul Cariappa,MD
Consultant Physician and Diabetologist
Our society is experiencing a rapid health
transition with a rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which are
emerging as the leading cause of death in India accounting for over 42% of all
deaths with considerable loss in potentially productive years of life. It has
been projected that, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) will be the largest cause
of death and disability in India by 2020.
Major risk factors for these NCDs are raised
blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity,
alcohol consumption, and obesity which are all modifiable by individuals
through healthy lifestyle choices. A majority of cancers and CVDs can be
prevented and treated if diagnosed at an early stage.
I advise my patients to choose their options wisely
1. Healthy food intake - Eat
at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day and avoid saturated fat.
Beware of processed and packaged foods and cut down on your intake of salt. Do
not eat out often. Home cooked food is better for your health.
2. Get active - Even 30
minutes of moderate intensity activity daily can help to prevent heart attacks
and strokes.
3. Say NO to tobacco - Your
risk of heart disease will be halved within a year and will return to a normal
level over time. Quit today, any time is the best time to quit.
4. Maintain
a healthy weight - Weight loss, especially together with lowered salt
intake, leads to lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is the number one
risk factor for stroke and a major factor for approximately half of all heart
disease and stroke.
Continued in part 2
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