The healthcare sector in India has chosen the path of development. This resulted in the eradication of different dangerous diseases, including leprosy and polio. According to the information provided by Statista, the number of infant mortality cases and gender-selective abortions has decreased significantly in India. However, there is still a growing number of life-threatening diseases. The recovery process from such dangerous diseases in India is complicated.
The recent study released by Apollo Hospitals Group reveals that the contribution of non-communicable diseases (like cancer) as the main cause of death in India has risen to 64.9%. Conversely, communicable diseases, maternal diseases, and other causes accounted for only 25%.
Patients in India face various challenges, such as a low level of access to healthcare services, and a shortage of healthcare personnel. In addition, most people can’t afford the costs of diagnosis and hospitalization.
The 5 most dangerous diseases in India are:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Malignant tumors (cancers)
- Diabetes
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the severe diseases in India. CVDs refer to a wide range of health conditions affecting the human heart and cause many deaths in India each year. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is higher in urban than in rural areas.
The recent Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) presents the list of urban and rural areas with high CVD prevalence:
| Prevalence of CVDs in Urban Areas | Prevalence of CVDs in Rural Areas |
| Jammu & Kashmir (51%) | Kerala (44%) |
| Telangana (46%) | Goa (41%) |
| West Bengal (44 %) | Andaman and Nicobar (40%) |
Furthermore, 32% of elderly Indian citizens were diagnosed with hypertension, 5.2% with chronic heart disease, and 2.7% with stroke according to the LASI study.
In India, cardiovascular diseases occur 10 to 15 years earlier than in other countries.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cardiovascular diseases include:
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Pain,
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Constant feeling of discomfort in the chest,
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Frequent sweating,
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Shortness of breath.
Prevention measures
Among the preventive measures are:
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Making physical activities an essential part of your lifestyle,
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Keeping to a healthy diet,
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Monitoring your weight,
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Checking blood pressure and cholesterol.
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory diseases are turning into one of the most dangerous diseases in India. Asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis are on the list of the most common respiratory diseases. When not treated effectively for a long time, these diseases can lead to death.
In India, respiratory diseases are quite prevalent. The prevalence level differs from state to state.
According to Statista, acute respiratory infections were most prevalent in Rajasthan (3.6 million cases as of 2020). West Bengal (2.59 million cases) and Kerala (2.36 million cases) rank second and third, respectively.
Air pollution in India has increased dramatically recently. For this reason, various respiratory diseases became more prevalent.
Symptoms
This is a short description of symptoms that people suffering from respiratory diseases usually have:
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High temperature,
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Coughing,
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Difficulties with breathing and weakness,
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Frequent tiredness,
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Runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat.
Prevention measures
It is recommended to take several steps for reducing the risk of respiratory diseases:
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Avoiding areas where air quality is poor,
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Quitting smoking (smoking can damage the lungs),
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Doing regular deep breathing exercises.
Malignant tumors (cancers)
Malignant tumors (cancers) are on the list of life-threatening diseases in India. Such tumors are dangerous, as cells start to grow and penetrate into different parts of the body. The disease weakens the person’s immune system. This results in serious disorders.
Combining several methods of treatment for tumors can lead to better results depending on the complexity of the patient case.
Since most Indians can’t afford treatment, cancer causes many deaths.
The report entitled ‘Cancer Statistics 2020’ published by the National Cancer Registry of Programme, India reveals alarming statistics. The number of cancer patients as of 2020 was 1,392,179. According to the same report, the list of the five most common types of cancer include:
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Breast cancer,
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Lung cancer,
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Mouth cancer,
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Cervix uteri cancer,
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Tongue cancer.
In addition, most cancer patients in India were diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Symptoms and prevention measures
The most dangerous part of this disease is the lack of any symptoms at the early stages of its development. It usually starts with a painless lump. Tumors are often detected by imaging tests (like Magnetic Resonance Imaging-MRI).
Leveraging the latest technology in health care delivery system can foster prevention of various severe diseases in India. For example, using AI technologies in radiology can increase the success rate for the early detection of cancer.
Maintaining a healthy weight and living a healthy lifestyle are crucial preventative measures. Another essential element is getting immunization regularly.
Diabetes
Many Indians suffer from diabetes. It is among the most serious diseases in India.
Diabetes affects how insulin is produced and used by the body. Insulin is a hormone which controls blood glucose levels.
There are two types of Diabetes known as Type 1 and Type 2. In case of the Type 1, enough insulin isn’t produced in the person’s body. Type 2 diabetes means that your body produces insulin, but it isn’t used in a proper way.
The prevalence of diabetes is a major health concern in India. According to the Diabetes Atlas 2021, 1 in 7 adults in India have diabetes. Therefore, as of 2021, India has the 2nd highest number of adults aged 20-79 with diabetes (74.2 million).
Additionally, the International Diabetes Federation reports that 53.1% of diabetics in India are undiagnosed.
Symptoms
Here are some symptoms typical of Diabetes:
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Losing weight,
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Constant urge for urination,
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Feeling tired, extremely hungry and thirsty.
Prevention measures
The key elements for preventing Diabetes include:
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Well-balanced diet focusing on minimizing the intake of carbohydrates and including more fiber,
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Monitoring the level of glucose in the blood.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
The term dementia refers to symptoms that impact memory, daily functioning, and communication skills. Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be the most common type of dementia.
During the first stages, patients complain of mild memory loss. Later on, when the situation worsens, they can fail to complete very simple tasks. This list includes forgetting about many details concerning their daily life, getting lost even in familiar areas, etc.
Alzheimer’s Disease mostly affects people who are 60 or more. In rare cases, it can also young people in their 30s.
The burden of dementia in India is quite high. It may be due to a lack of awareness about this disease. Furthermore, there are very few resources and centers to deal with this problem.
Over 4 million Indians suffer from some form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Another study entitled ‘The Global Burden of Disease’ predicts that by 2050, 11.44 million people in India will have dementia.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease are:
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Chronic forgetfulness,
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Mental decline,
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Lack of logical thinking and understanding.
Prevention measures
In order to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s essential to take these steps:
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Monitoring cardiovascular health,
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Developing healthy eating habits.
The impact of remote healthcare services on preventing severe diseases in India
The percentage of deaths caused by the above-mentioned diseases, in developing countries, like India is quite high. In most cases, the reasons are:
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Lack of access to high-quality healthcare services
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Low affordability
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Poor medical knowledge and health literacy.
Health care delivery system in India is becoming more affordable and accessible due to the rapid development of remote healthcare services. This can foster the effective treatment of dangerous diseases in India.
The number of healthtech startups is increasing rapidly over recent years. Docus is one of the best examples of health care startups focused on promoting early stage detection and treatment of severe diseases in India. It focuses on achieving this goal. It is a an easily accessible and secure all-in-one platform connecting Indian hospital doctors with the best international doctors.
Docus has conducted an in-depth research and partnered with the best doctors from the USA and Europe. The medical experts cover a wide variety of specializations, including cardiology, immunology, oncology, endocrinology, neurology, etc.
Doctors can effectively cooperate with each other to treat patients with severe diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Consequently, patients will have a better chance of recovery. Therefore, more lives will be saved.
In conclusion, it is vital to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo regular health checks. Early detection can greatly increase the chance of successful treatment for dangerous diseases.
