#EkChammachKam

Non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, are lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and chronic kidney disease.

These have reached epidemic proportions and are responsible for 65-70% of deaths in India, according to a study published in the journal Lancet. Hence, the World Health Organization has declared a war against NCDs. The Indian government, too, has launched a nationwide programme to eliminate or control them.

Diabetes is the most worrisome of these diseases—the number of cases has risen 10 times in the last 40 years. In Chandigarh, Delhi, and Chennai, more than half the population above 55 years of age has some form of dysglycemia or an abnormality in blood sugar stability.

NCDs have been fuelled by a rapid increase of obesity cases in India. In urban areas, more than 70% of people who are above 40 years old need to lose significant weight.

Changing patterns of lifestyle diseases

• Type 2 diabetes, which would earlier affect the elderly, now impacts even young adults. Those having a family history of diabetes are especially at risk. The same is true for obesity cases among children, which have risen by 20-30%, particularly in well-to-do families.
• Both urban and rural India has been reeling under the onslaught of diabetes. The disease particularly has devastating effects on low-income families, who cannot afford treatment.
• One out of 3 Indians and almost half the population in metros who are above 40 years of age suffer from high blood pressure. Like diabetes, hypertension has also shifted gear. It now affects the young and the semi-urban or rural population of India.
• Coronary artery disease strikes much earlier in Indians due to their genetic predisposition and their typical “thin fat Indian phenotype”. Thus, we see more cases of angioplasties and bypass surgeries among young and middle-aged Indians (who unfortunately are the breadwinners of their families), compared to the West, where it’s usually the senior citizens who are affected.

Prevention of lifestyle diseases

Lifestyle diseases can be prevented if we reduce the intake of salt, sugar, and oil by at least 30%. The same is the crux of the ‘Ek Chammach Kam’ campaign, which also elaborates the importance of 30 minutes of daily exercise and quitting consumption of tobacco in any form.

How ‘Ek Chammach Kam’ works

It works at all 4 levels of prevention—

• Primordial prevention: Every household will use 30% less salt, oil, and sugar in their foods. In the process, they will be exposing their children to a healthy eating culture.
• Primary prevention: Pre-diabetic and pre-obese people should opt for regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising and quitting consumption of tobacco.
• Secondary prevention: Those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, or heart diseases should support the ‘Ek Chammach Kam’ campaign. This is because reducing the intake of 30% less salt, oil, and sugar helps slow down the progression of the diseases.
• Tertiary prevention: ‘Ek Chammach Kam’ works even here, especially in the area of salt restriction. It helps in controlling high BP, edema, and fluid overload, thereby preventing strokes and heart diseases.

So, join the Ek Chammach Kam campaign today!