India is witnessing a rise in hypertension and diabetes: What you need to know, answers experts

India has 315 million people with hypertension and 101 million people with diabetes, according to an alarming new study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and published in the journal ‘The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology’.

The study also revealed that 136 million Indians are pre-diabetic, 213 million live with high cholesterol, 185 million suffer from high LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol, 254 million live with moderate obesity and 351 million have abdominal obesity. Suffers from obesity.

These non-communicable diseases were also behind 65 percent of deaths and 40 percent of hospitalizations in India, according to a study by Apollo Hospitals in April.

Speaking to IANS, Rakesh Gupta, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi said that the increasing prevalence can be attributed to several factors.

“Rapid urbanization and the adoption of a more Western lifestyle have led to a decline in physical activity levels. Sedentary behaviors such as prolonged sitting and reduced exercise lead to weight gain and an increased risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Additionally, Increased stress levels and lack of proper sleep can also negatively affect blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” said Gupta.

They also attributed significant changes in dietary habits – from the traditional Indian diet, which typically includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes, to more processed and high-calorie foods.

“Consumption of unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates and excessive salt has increased, leading to weight gain, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels,” said the expert.

There is also a genetic predisposition among Indians, especially those of South Asian descent, to develop hypertension and dyslipidemia. Evidence also indicates that Indians are more vulnerable to insulin resistance.

The doctor explained that certain gene variants when combined with unhealthy lifestyle factors further increase the risk.

The increased consumption of added sugar, found in many ultra-processed foods, has been linked to overweight and obesity, which affects about 40 percent of the global population, including millions of children.

“It is imperative to recognize the complex relationship between sugar consumption and the development of diabetes. Sugar, once regarded as a simple pleasure, can disrupt our body’s delicate balance of glucose regulation, predisposing individuals to this chronic disease.” Can be a victim of the situation,” Manoj Vithalani, senior consultant physician and diabetologist, HCG Hospital, Ahmedabad told IANS.

The commonly used low or no-calorie substitute for sugar, known as non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), is also harmful to health, the expert said.

NSS is typically marketed as a means for weight loss or maintenance of a healthy weight and is often recommended as a means of controlling blood glucose in individuals with diabetes.

“Higher intake of NSS is associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and related mortality and all-cause mortality,” said Anurag Agarwal, consultant-internal medicine, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad.

It is also associated with an increased risk of higher body mass index and incident obesity; and risk of bladder cancer.

Health experts stressed the need to educate people to make informed choices, adopt a balanced approach to nutrition and adopt healthier options. This includes regular physical activity such as walking, jogging or cycling and reducing sedentary time.

A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats should be followed, while limiting the intake of processed foods, saturated fats, trans fats, and sugary beverages.

Doctors also recommended weight and stress management as well as regular health check-ups to check blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes.