Lifestyle diseases are chronic non-communicable diseases that are primarily caused by modifiable behavioral risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. Some of the major lifestyle diseases include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Controlling behavioral risk factors through a healthy diet, exercise, avoiding tobacco and alcohol is key to preventing and managing lifestyle diseases. A comprehensive multi-sectoral approach involving healthcare, education, and policy can help minimize risk factors and ensure early detection and treatment of lifestyle diseases.

1. Life style
disorders

2. Introduction
Lifestyle diseases are ailments that are primarily based
on the day to day habits of people. Habits that detract
people from activity and push them towards a sedentary
routine can cause a number of health issues that can lead
to chronic non-communicable diseases that can have
near life-threatening consequences.

3. o Non communicable diseases (NCDs) kill around 40 million people
each year, that is around 70% of all deaths globally.
o NCDs are chronic in nature and cannot be communicated from one
person to another. They are a result of a combination of factors
including genetics, physiology, environment and behaviours.
o The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular and chronic respiratory
diseases in addition to cancer. NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases
(CVD), stroke, diabetes and certain forms of cancer are heavily
linked to lifestyle choices, and hence, are often known as lifestyle
diseases.
o NCDs are caused, to a massive extent, by four behavioural risk
factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity
and harmful use of alcohol

4. Causes
The causes of NCDs can be divided into three broad categories: modifiable behavioural
risk factors, non-modifiable risk factors and metabolic risk factors.
1. Modifiable behavioural risk factors:
Behavioural risk factors such as excessive use of alcohol, bad food habits, eating and
smoking tobacco, physical inactivity, wrong body posture and disturbed biological
clock increase the likelihood of NCDs. The modern occupational setting (desk jobs)
and the stress related to work is also being seen as a potent risk factor for NCDs
2. Non-modifiable risk factors:
Risk factors that cannot be controlled or modified by the application of an intervention
can be called non-modifiable risk factors and include:
• Age
• Race
• Gender
• Genetics

5. • Metabolic risk factors: Metabolic risk factors lead to four major changes in the
metabolic systems that increase the possibility of NCDs:
• Increased blood pressure
• Obesity
• Increased blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia
• Increased levels of fat in the blood or hyperlipidemia
• Increased blood pressure is the leading metabolic risk factor globally with 19% of
the global deaths attributed to it, followed by obesity and hyperglycermia.

6. Major Lifestyle disorders
CVD
• Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and may
include:
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Stroke
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Congenital heart disease
• CVDs are the number 1 cause of death globally and account for more than 17 million deaths
per year.
• Major Modifiable Risk FactorsHigh blood pressure Abnormal blood lipids Tobacco use
Physical inactivity Obesity Unhealthy diet (salt) Diabetes Heavy alcohol use
• Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Age Heredity or family history Gender Ethnicity or race
• Other Risk Factors
Excess homocysteine in blood - Inflammatory markers (Creactive protein) Abnormal blood
coagulation (elevated blood levels of fibrinogen) Lipoprotein(a)

7. • Diabetes
• Diabetes is a metabolism disorder that affects the way the body used food
for energy and physical growth. There are 4 types of diabetes: Type 1, Type
2, Gestational, and Pre-Diabetes (Impaired Glucose Tolerance). Type 2 is
the most common diabetes in the world and is caused by modifiable
behavioural risk factors.

8. • Cancer
• Cancer affects different parts of the body and is characterised by a rapid
creation of abnormal cells in that part and can invade other parts of the
body as well. More than 7 million people die of cancer each year and 30%
of those diseases are attributed to lifestyle choices.8

9. • Chronic respiratory diseases
• Some of the most under-diagnosed conditions, chronic respiratory diseases
(CRD) are a potent cause of death globally with 90% of the deaths taking
place in low-income countries. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and asthma are the two main types of CRDs.

10. Obesity: We are all familiar with the word and yet we tend to
ignore it.
• Unhealthy eating habits, stressful lifestyle, reduced physical
activity translates to obesity.
• Anybody who is overweight suffers from breathing issues,
blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc. This is
also the first step to your body attracting all kinds of other
lifestyle diseases.
According to the National Family Health Survey, India ranks
second with 155 million obese citizens and this number is
increasing at 33-51% every year.

11. • 8. Stroke: When the blood vessel carrying blood to the brain
has a blockage leading to an oxygen deficiency for the area of
the brain it carried blood to, the result of this is called stroke.
High blood pressure, if not taken care of in time with proper
treatment, can lead to a stroke. Stroke can also be caused due
to hereditary reasons.

12. • Swimmer’s ear: When you use headphones constantly and are exposed to
loud music more than you should be, the ultimate result of this is
swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear causes inflammation, irritation or infection
in the ear canal or the outer ear. According to studies, 12.5% approximately
have suffered permanent damage to their hearing due to constant exposure
to noise. This number is said to be increasing by the year.

13. • Nephritis: When there is swelling in the kidneys leading to
abnormal function, it is known as nephritis. There are many
causes of nephritis, one of them being an allergic reaction to a
medication or antibiotic. Other than this, it can also be caused
due to bacterial infections, which may enter through street
foods not prepared in hygienic conditions.

14. • High blood pressure: 100 million in India suffer from high
blood pressure. Some very common reasons for high blood
pressure are stress, obesity, genetic factors and unhealthy
eating habits. When the reading in the blood pressure machine
is 140/90 or higher, your blood pressure is high. Once this
happens, you will feel severe discomfort.

15. Control and prevention
of lifestyle diseases
• An important way of controlling non-communicable diseases is by controlling the risk
factors associated with it. In other words, a number of communicable diseases can be
prevented by controlling the behavioural or lifestyle habits associated with those
diseases. There are a number of low-cost solutions that can be implemented by the
government and other involved groups to reduce the common modifiable risk factors.1
Monitoring the trends of non -communicable diseases and their associated risks is
crucial for guiding policies and guidelines.
• A comprehensive approach is essential that involves all sectors including health, finance,
education, planning and others, to minimise the impact of lifestyle diseases on
individuals and society. The approach needs to instigate a collaborative effort to
minimise the risks associated with no communicable diseases and at the same time
inspire interventions to control and prevent them.
• Lifestyle diseases are a threat to the socio-economic aspects of nations globally and
appropriate actions for their management are the need of the moment. Management of
lifestyle diseases includes proper diagnosis, screening and treatment of these diseases in
addition to providing palliative care for people who require it. Quality lifestyle disease
intervention needs to be delivered through a primary healthcare approach where early
detection and proper treatment are prioritised.

16. Reference
• Lifestyle Diseases: Consequences, Characteristics, Causes and
Control
S A Tabish
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, India
•