Many post-Covid illnesses linked to unhealthy lifestyle

Dr Kamal Bhalla suggests reduced screen time, quitting alcohol, drugs and nicotine, outdoor physical activities, frequent work breaks and home-cooked food to combat lifestyle diseases

Vasudha Zora | NT

Bengaluru: Emergence of Covid in its wake has resulted in many lifestyle ailments. Some of the common morbid ones being diabetes, hypertension, strokes, cancers, spinal and bone, cholesterol and liver related issues. But, city doctors blame these diseases on absence of physical activities.

Dr Kamal Bhalla, a Consultant for Sagar Hospitals told the News Trail that most of these lifestyle illnesses were caused due to lack of physical activity and devoting excessive screen time. She also held the factors responsible for widespread mental health problems in the country.

“It is very shocking that diseases that surface at the age of 60 or above have now become very common among younger groups and even adolescents. The excessive use of narcotics, alcohol and nicotine in many individuals spawn these diseases. About 50 percent of the patients are vitamin deficient and a large section of women now deal with the extreme hormonal dysfunction followed by Anemia, ” Dr Bhalla explained. In cases of children, the doctor said, many of them are already suffering from dangerous levels of diabetes.

They also develop learning disabilities as new parents subject their children to uncontrolled screen time. This not only hampers the mental but also the physical development of the child. Among women and men, hypertension, cholesterol, infertility, diabetes, heart attacks, liver complications, digestive system related illnesses and cancers are very common, the doctor said.

Speaking on the evolutionary changes in Dr Bhalla said, “In the last decade I have noticed the blood flow of the majority of my patients during their period. This has drastically changed. Now, they are prone to more body pain, cramps and tiredness which were not the issue earlier.” She also referred to PCOD and PCOS which are hormonal based illnesses in women. She explains that women are more prone to obesity and depression in comparison to their male counterparts. She said somehow this decline in healthy lifestyle is also caused by societal pressures.

The doctor further pointed out that a large number of people in Bengaluru eat outside food. Absence of home cooked food in their diet is bringing about adverse changes in their bodies. Dr Kamal Bhalla has suggested changes in lifestyle that can help individuals live a healthier life and avoid life threatening diseases.

She suggests reduction in screen time, quitting use of alcohol , drugs and nicotine, outdoor physical activities, breaks especially after long hours of sitting, sourcing local vegetables and taking home cooked diets. All these would be very beneficial provided they are eaten at the right time and quantity.

“Individuals approaching the age of 30 need to take full body scans including tests of sugar level, blood pressure, ECG and blood tests to look out for any life threatening diseases and take preventive measures. The symptoms in itself are so alarming, almost everyone feels lethargic , body pain, tiredness and insomnia which also cause mental health problems,” the doctor said.