- Non communicable diseases are chronic diseases that are not contagious
- They develop slowly and often show no early symptoms
- Many require long term or lifelong treatment
Major Types of Non Communicable Diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke
- Cancers
- Chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma
- Mental health disorders such as depression and trauma
Global Burden of NCDs
- Leading cause of premature deaths worldwide
- Account for about 71 percent of total global deaths
- Cause around 41 million deaths every year
- Four major NCDs account for over 80 percent of premature NCD deaths
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Low and middle income countries account for 86 percent of premature NCD deaths before age 70
Causes of Non Communicable Diseases
- Combination of genetic factors
- Physiological factors
- Environmental exposure
- Behavioural and lifestyle factors
Risk Factors for NCDs
- Tobacco use
- Harmful use of alcohol
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Air pollution
- Stress
- Family history and advancing age
Major Non Communicable Diseases
Hypertension
- Condition where blood pressure is persistently 140 over 90 mmHg or higher
- Known as a silent killer due to absence of early symptoms
Risk factors
- Ageing
- Obesity
- High salt intake
- Tobacco and alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Stress
Complications
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Cardiac failure
- Kidney failure
- Blindness
Indian scenario
- One in four adults in India has hypertension
- Only about 12 percent have it under control
Diabetes Mellitus
- Chronic condition caused by insufficient insulin production or poor insulin utilisation
- Random blood glucose above 140 mg per decilitre raises suspicion
Types
- Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy
- Type 2 diabetes is most common and lifestyle related
Symptoms
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst and hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Slow wound healing
Complications
- Blindness
- Kidney failure
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
Prevention
- Healthy diet
- Regular physical activity
- Weight management
Cardiovascular Diseases
- Diseases affecting heart and blood vessels
- Includes coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke
Heart attack
- Occurs due to blockage of blood supply to heart muscle
- Presents as chest pain radiating to arm or jaw
Stroke
- Occurs when blood supply to brain is interrupted or vessel ruptures
Types of stroke
- Ischemic stroke due to clot
- Hemorrhagic stroke due to vessel rupture
Global burden
- Second leading cause of death worldwide
- One in four people likely to suffer a stroke in lifetime
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
- Affect airways and lungs
- Include COPD, asthma, occupational lung diseases
Risk factors
- Tobacco smoke
- Air pollution
- Occupational dust and chemicals
- Childhood respiratory infections
Management
- Not curable
- Symptoms can be controlled with treatment
Cancer
- Disease caused by uncontrolled cell division
- Leads to formation of tumours
Types of tumours
- Benign tumours are non cancerous
- Malignant tumours are cancerous and invasive
Common cancers in India
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Oral cancer
Cervical cancer
- Caused mainly by HPV infection
- Around 75,000 deaths annually in India
- Preventable through HPV vaccination
Risk factors
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Unhealthy diet
- Air pollution
- Radiation exposure
- Oncogenic infections
Future projection
- New cancer cases expected to rise to over 1.5 million by 2035
NCDs in India
- Account for about 66 percent of total deaths
- About 22 percent are premature deaths
- India likely to miss SDG target of reducing premature NCD deaths by one third by 2030
Government Initiatives to Address NCDs
National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs
- Launched in 2010
- Focus on early diagnosis, treatment, referral, and health promotion
- Implemented through National Health Mission
Indian Hypertension Control Initiative
- Target of 25 percent reduction in hypertension prevalence by 2025
- Focus on improving access to treatment
National Tobacco Control Programme
- Launched in 2007
- Aims to reduce tobacco consumption
- Special focus on youth and children
Importance of Addressing NCDs
- Essential for improving life expectancy
- Reduces healthcare costs
- Improves workforce productivity
- Critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Conclusion
Non communicable diseases pose a major public health challenge in India and globally. Addressing them requires a comprehensive approach combining prevention, early detection, lifestyle modification, and strengthened healthcare systems rather than treatment alone.
