Health and wellness have become the forefront of people's concerns in this modern day and age. Data revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in people being more motivated to exercise and modify their lifestyles.
The pandemic had people more health-conscious and social media has an abundance of wellness tips, diets, exercises, and stretches that netizens can try. But, what are the biggest health challenges that Indians should be wary of?
It's important to prioritise your well-being and understand the health challenges that Indians may have to face because of lifestyle changes.
Luke Coutinho, the integrative and lifestyle medicine expert and author spoke with SheThePeople about the biggest health challenges that Indians will face.
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Luke Coutinho On Health Challenges
When asked about the biggest health challenges Indians would have to brace for, Luke Coutinho revealed that he believes we will go through exactly what the citizens of the United States went through a few years ago.
"Cancer is going to skyrocket, purely because of lifestyle," said Coutinho. He added that while 4 to 6 per cent of cancers were genetic, around 94 per cent is caused by poor lifestyle.
Coutinho said that the first question people will ask is, Why didn't it happen 10 years ago? Why is cancer skyrocketing right now? He answered that the current generation is "up against the odds".
He continued, "We don't have the right air to breathe. Our source of fuel is wrong from food pesticides, air polluted carcinogens. Whether you're a smoker or non-smoker, it hits us... So you see, we're up against the odds. So we have everything to make cancer favourable. It's a challenge. And that's why we have to go beyond what we do to look after our health today. Before 10 years, we wouldn't have to worry about these little things and stuff like that, but now we have to."
Stress
Coutinho said that cancer and cardiovascular diseases will continue to take lives unless we learn to take it easy. He advised, "It starts with perception, everyone has problems, and that's where spirituality comes in." Coutinho said it was important for people to learn how to let go and how to accept things.
The lifestyle coach then pointed out that ego and pride was the number one obstacle to people from doing the right things and changing their lifestyle. However, Coutinho said that change is always possible and is already happening. "It needs to reach this dynamic country in different languages, in different ways. And it has to become a norm," said Coutinho.
Changing Lifestyles
Luke Coutinho said that instead of only being prescribed medication, people also need to be prescribed lifestyles by doctors. The lifestyle coach and holistic nutritionist said that when the advice to change your lifestyle comes from the top down, from doctors to patients, then people will follow.
Coutinho also pointed out that another major health challenge people would have to face was cognitive brain decline. Diseases like Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's will also incease. He said that these diseases don't "just happen" and if a person faces cognitive brain decline, then it started 15 to 20 years ago in their brain. Coutinho said, "What we're doing today will determine how we're going to be 20 years down the line".
Luke Coutinho signed off by saying that these were the major health challenges people would face in India and that it's up to each of use to change who we live and alter our lifestyle.
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