The primary metro cities of India is badly struggling with the scarcity of necessary medical help and services in the major urban areas of these places where a major part of its whole pollution is living either in slums or slums like habitations. This urges the necessity to create a full-fledged awareness regarding metros primary health issues and its coping solutions to the responsible departments of the central government.
Most of the population living in urban areas of metros belongs to the underprivileged or extremely poor class who are hardly availing a healthy and sanitized living environment, safe accommodation, drinkable water or any other basic services which are must for the survival.
In one term it can be said that the condition of urban population is worst when compared to their counterpart rural population who are at least living in a sanitized environment and getting clean air to breathe and clean water to drink at least.
As per the population growth trend in India, it is estimated that in next few decades this condition may get much worse because the population growth rate is tremendous and this trend will remain up even in the next few decades.
Larger the population will be a greater possibility to live in the urban area of metros which in turn will affect their overall health and condition badly in the lack of necessary and basic facilities in the way as it should be.
This creates an urge to develop and expand primary health care departments for the urban poor who are the primary victims of communicable diseases, respiratory infections, pollution, road accidents and traumas and injury thereon, etc.
In the list of victims of the urban population of the country, even the middle class and upper-class people are not lagging behind as even they are also found as the major sufferer of malignant and non-communicable diseases which are the life-threatening conditions. This is particularly because of their unhealthy lifestyle, lack of fresh air and major everyday traffic and pollution problem at roads.
Metros Major Health Issues
Communicable Diseases
The major pain area of urban population is the spread of communicable diseases which often leads to death as well. Some most common communicable diseases that are affecting the urban poor every year include malaria, chikungunya, dengue, flu, etc.
This mostly occurs and develops due to the low level of sanitization including a greater density of stagnant waters in slums like areas which causes the bread of influenza virus and malaria and dengue mosquitoes which are the primary killers.
The death rate caused by these major and common communicable diseases is increasing every year. Even with medication intervention is not showing any significant improvement because its recurrence risk remains too high due to existing sanitary position and environmental dust and pollution which are other major contributors for spreading these communicable diseases.
In this respect, one latest study report has been published by the World Health Organization which has created the necessity to focus on a new dimension in regard to communicable diseases such as malaria, chikungunya, dengue. According to this report, it is the people who play a major role in spreading this killer disease in urban population rather than mosquitoes.
As per this report mosquito which contributes these communicable diseases confined to a particular area only i.e. remains to their birthplace till their whole life span. In such condition uninfected mosquitoes when bites to an infected person get infected due to the contact of infected blood and further spread it to other people.
Similarly, a flu-infected person can spread this communicable disease to their surrounding people with a single sneeze only. This is very popular in urbanization area where there are a huge crowd and congested living environment. Also, it is quite difficult to avoid such flu where you live in a poor sanitary environment and contacts with other infected people are unavoidable.
In metro cities where local trains are one of the primary modes of transport often remains loaded with a huge number of urban people. This again creates a very common condition or environment for spreading influenza viruses if an infected person of the urban population takes a ride in such train to other healthy people through sneezing and coughing.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders
Another major health problem that most of the metro cities of India are facing is respiratory tract diseases. Children are the major victims of this health issue which is a very likely situation in an environment full of pollution and dust.
Even in the modern equipped areas of the cities due to the rush of an immense number of vehicles and other sources of air pollution, it becomes a major concern. As children of aging under 5 have a very weaker immune system because their body has not built a strong immunity system like an adult person so they are the greater victims when they come in the contact of pollution full air.
As per the latest report published by the HEAL Foundation, it is said that 4 out of 10 children in Delhi NCR is suffering from major lung issues. A similar situation is there with the children of other metro cities of India as well which not only affects their childhood but this condition persists in the same position even in their adulthood or even get chronic with time.
As per the survey report conducted on school children which are published on World Asthma Day, it is found that rise in air pollution has affected more than the average number of children in cities like Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi.
This report says that air pollution not only affects the lungs health of the metropolitan children but it also increases their risk of developing heart diseases, chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, etc.
As per this report, more than 35% out of the total school-going children are detected with bad respiratory health condition whereas the satisfactory and average rate is also too low. This shows that the surrounding air quality is too bad to breathe which is directly impacting the health of these children.
Similarly, the death rate caused by non-communicable diseases in children is also very significant which is another major concern in metro cities and needs immediate attention from the responsible healthcare departments.
Poor nutrition level in the body or increased consumption of processed foods is another vital reason that is causing major illnesses in children of metro cities which requires proper attention in order to change the existing health scenarios or condition.
Digestive Tract Diseases
Digestive tract diseases or disorders are other leading health issues which one can easily see in urban slum areas as well as modernized urban societies. Lack of dietary negligence is the primary culprit when it comes to bad digestion health of urban citizens.
Their poor lifestyle habits which are mostly sedentary, negligence towards healthy sources of foods and more consumption of processed foods are enough to hamper normal gut health.
As a result of it, several digestive diseases develop such as indigestion, food poisoning, infections, abdominal cramp, gastric, constipation, etc. As per the report of the gut health survey, 14% of the total urban population is affected with chronic constipation problem.
The report says that every year approx. 4.6% of total certified death rates in the metro cities are caused by some or other digestive system disorders. In this context, the lavishing urban areas cuisines are also major contributor which primarily provides foods rich in fat and full of spices.
Other key contributors to bad digestive health or digestive disorders are an addiction to tobaccos, alcoholism, drugs abuse, stress, etc. which is a common part of the usual lifestyle of urbanized people.
In urban slum areas, diarrhea is a very common digestive health concern which often causes death as well. This particularly happens due to the scarcity of pure drinkable water and proper sanitization which directly affects the digestive system leading to poor gut health.
Non Communicable Diseases
Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases, etc. are the major killers. These are the wide-spread health concern in urban cities. As per the WHO report, every year about 61% of total deaths count in India is caused by these non-communicable diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases such as heart diseases and stroke are the most common concern nowadays and it is widely affecting the urban population with a comparison to the rural population.
This is primarily because of the unhealthy lifestyle lead by the urban population including wrong food choices, negligence towards fresh and natural foods which are actually good for the health and addiction to tobacco, alcoholism, etc are the key contributing factors that directly affect to your heart health.
This leads to cause high cholesterol level or increase in the quality of bad cholesterol which affects the normal blood circulation to the heart and other organs of the body. This affects the normal heart pumping rate leading to increased risk of congestive heart failure, pulmonary diseases, coronary heart diseases, and hypertension.
Also, sedentary lifestyle and avoidance to more physical activities are other major reasons which are affecting the urban population’s health badly. For keeping your heart in a healthy position and for preventing the risk of stroke or heart attack which can even cause instant death condition, it is very crucial to incorporate more physical activities in everyone’s daily routine.
Availability of easy transportation, escalator, elevator and other such luxurious means in metro cities are affecting the health of urban people badly as this eliminates their necessity of walking even a shorter distance destination, usage of the staircase, etc.
People who belong to a richer class are the major victims of cardiovascular health problems because of their restricted physical activities and due to the presence of all available means for a luxurious life.
It is found in a study that people who belong to wealthy class mostly have these common health issues, which are primary contributors of CVD such as high body mass index, systolic blood pressure, high blood glucose, etc.
It can affect a person even very early stages of their life like just after the 30s whereas in the long past these major health problems usually develop after the age of 50 only and in very scenarios only.
Cancer Or Malignant Disease
Cancer which is also known as a malignant disease is another non-communicable disease, a life-threatening condition. Its growth rate is in an upward motion with an increasing trend every year. It is estimated that by the year 2025 there will be a five-fold rise in the total count of the cancer patient with a comparison to the existing count of cancer patients in India.
Unhealthy lifestyle, stress, unhealthy diet routine and use of chemicals and pesticides in fertilization, excessive environmental pollution and poor sanitation level in urban slum areas are key contributing factors for these non-communicable diseases.
The most common cancer types which are spreading like a rapid-fire in urban areas include colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, reproductive cancer, lungs cancer, etc. This needs appropriate treatment in the initial stage otherwise in the later or advanced stages of these cancer survivals is really very difficult, even with the treatment intervention.
Diabetes
Diabetes is another most common non-communicable health issue in the metro cities in India. It is one of the leading lifestyle disorders after obesity. Type 2 diabetes which is major and lifelong health concern gets trigger due to increased body weight or obesity.
That means people who are obese are more likely to develop diabetes at some or other point in time of their life if they do not start living a healthy lifestyle at the very early stages of their life.
Unhealthy foods consumptions such as fried and highly processed meals, excess alcohol intake, lack of physical activity, stress, etc are the major contributors of the increased level of blood sugar in the body which thereon causes type 2 diabetes.
A person who has clinically diagnosed with diabetes health issue need to live in a very restricted diet routine and overall lifestyle as negligence in this respect can cause an immediate emergency situation which can even cause death as well.
Accidents and Injuries
Road accidents and injuries are other major health problems which cause major damaging as well as death too in a significant amount every year. A per latest statistics report in India every year about 17 deaths and 55 injuries happens due to road accident per hour which is really an alarming situation.
This simply shows how unplanned or badly managed traffic management in metros cities. The rash driving in the crowded roads and due to the negligence of traffic rules are the major cause of this high rate of death and injuries caused by road accidents.
How to Avoid Major Metros Health Issues
Tips for Avoiding Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular diseases which are a very common non-communicable and life-threatening diseases in metro cities can be avoided and controlled with a very active and healthy lifestyle routine.
Some vital lifestyle measures which can protect you from this life-threatening condition include workout every day at least for 30 minutes, sleep at least for 7 to 8 hours, avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol intake, control your stress, reduce your weight to the healthy level, follow a healthy diet routine and check your diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol level very frequently to avoid the sudden emergency situations.
Tips to Avoid Respiratory Diseases
Tobacco smoking is the primary factor responsible for respiratory diseases. Apart from this other kind of toxic smoke cam also directly hamper to your respiratory health such as industrial gases, chemicals, environmental pollution, dust, etc.
So to prevent this major health problem it is very important for you to quit smoking immediately as smoking not only affects to the person who is doing it but its smoke can also affect to the respiratory system of people who are in close contact of a smoker.
Also, use a mask to cover your mouth while going out in traffic especially when you visit an urban slum area.
In this context intervention of responsible Government bodies such as municipalities, and other such departments should also take active steps to ensure the cleanliness in urban slum areas as well as in main city areas for proper traffic arrangement. Rules should be made for reducing the road pollution caused by vehicles etc.
Tips to Avoid Digestive disorders
A digestive disorder which is another common health condition faced by metros people in India can be improved and prevented by following a healthy lifestyle routine. Quit tobacco and alcohol intake, avoid the use of some medications such as aspirin, steroids, sulpha, etc as much as it is possible.
Exercise well and drink plenty amount of water to improve your digestive system and to reduces and prevent the common digestive tract health concerns like ulcers, and, constipation which later on can cause major digestive health tract problem and can even affect to the functionality and health of other bodily organs.
Tips to Prevent Communicable Diseases
Waterborne diseases such as malaria, chikungunya, dengue, flu, etc are the major killers especially to people of slum or slum-like areas in metropolitan cities. These are the communicable diseases which spread very rapidly from one infected person to another.
However, it can be prevented by maintaining proper sanitization especially in areas where stagnant water is a major scenario by sprinkling pesticides and other chemicals to prevent the bread of flu viruses and mosquitoes.
Also, an awareness program should run to educate the poor people regarding the symptoms of these common outbreaks that appear year by year in these cities. So that without making delay they can reach the diagnostic center as early detection can prevent its major health risk with timely treatment.
Tips for Preventing Accidents and Injuries
Strict traffic policies should be made so that the citizens will be bound to follow them for preventing regular road accidents and injury cases in the metros. Also for pedestrian as well there should be a strict rule like to use footpath only for the walking, eliminate the use of the phone during walking, usage zebra crossing should be mandatory while crossing the road.
For controlling the excessive traffic there should be planned management to reduce the crowd and accidents rate thereon. There should be definite medical services and first aid services for injured people and immediate treatment facility of people who are met with a deadly accident in order to save lives caused by road accidents.
This article is all about creating awareness of metros primary health issues and its coping solutions so that more life hampers can be stopped on time before the condition gets devastating.