Rise in Chronic respiratory diseases in Rajasthan raises  alarm

• Upto 27% people between 40 and 70 years of age are at high risk of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Rajasthan
• Rajasthan has the highest deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the country
• People must get a regular body check-up to keep a check on their health and get screened for any possible disease

Incoherent lifestyle, air pollution, dietary habits have emerged as the leading causes of the rise in cases of Non-Communicable Diseases.

Despite various preventive and medical care, there has been a rise in chronic respiratory diseases major among them asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung diseases, Allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis, in Rajasthan in the past decade. The CRDs are mostly caused by bad air quality, tobacco smoking, other risk factors including occupational chemicals and dust.

There are many breathing problems which include chronic sinusitis, allergies, and asthma. Such problems can cause a lot of symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, and chest congestion. Up to 27% of the people between 40 and 70 years of age are at risk of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in the state of Rajasthan. Some of the chronic respiratory diseases are not curable. However, various forms of treatment that help dilate major air passages and improve breath can help increase the quality of life for people with such diseases. People should minimize the use of alcohol, salt, and sugar to avoid catching Non-communicable diseases, besides changing their lifestyle and food habits.

To reduce use of respiratory ailments, the state of Rajasthan has set a target to reduce the use of tobacco by 25% by 2025 through public awareness programmes.

According to a 2017 Heath Ministry report, Rajasthan has the highest deaths due to, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the country. The report also blamed the state’s highly polluted air quality for a number of asthma deaths. Along with respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes have emerged as the four leading causes of NCD deaths in the country. And these NCDs share four risk factors including use of tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.

As we live in an extremely fast-moving world, hectic work schedules and stress could spark off a variety of diseases in our body. Stress and anxiety have been found to be directly related to various diseases that are both physical as well as psychological.

People must get a regular body check-up to keep a check on their health and get screened for any possible disease. In critical cases like cancer, early diagnosis can play a big role in treating the disease. There are some diseases whose progression cannot be tracked at an early stage unless the patient has regular health screenings. People must also take care of their health by adopting a healthy lifestyle, avoiding use of alcohol, tobacco.

Although India has achieved a lot in terms of standards of living and quality healthcare, the worrying trend of NCDs is still a major threat. According to WHO report, the NCDs now account for 61 per cent of deaths in India, exceeding those of communicable diseases.  As communicable diseases have been curbed to a greater extent, it is the non-communicable diseases that have become a major cause of diseases.