Healthwise: Urban Indian men are vulnerable

A health expert cum physical fitness trainer says that faulty food habits like having junk food items and high calorie foods (like for instance red meat) leads to hypertension. Although there could be exceptions, in general it is believed that a consistent intake of very high calorie foods and processed foods also adversely impacts the mental faculties. Consumption of excess calories needs to be burned through physical exercise and most men living in urban cities have sedentary lifestyles. Therefore this is the root of the problem, according to the physical fitness trainer. 

A World Health Organization's quote of 1948 reads, 'Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. Health is the veritable wealth. Health should be the biggest priority of one's life. It is said and believed that particularly for a man if the social, economic, mental and physical dimensions of life are balanced, the outcome is sure to be wellness.

Thus the quote by WHO rightly defines the composite and comprehensive essence of human health. In the present times, life has become quite mechanical and formal. We see most people suffering from many kinds of health problems. In most of the major countries and cities of the world, the pressures of urban living are adversely impacting the health and wellbeing of people.

What's worse youngsters are falling prey to an unprecedented crop of lifestyle diseases. Our country too is no exception. A survey by Metropolis Healthcare once reported that diabetes and cholesterol are escalating in urban men and most men also suffer from hypertension. It is not an exaggeration to say that urban men contend with a wider and more complicated range of diseases compared to rural men. This is because pollution and stress are relatively lesser in rural areas.

A health expert cum physical fitness trainer says that faulty food habits like having junk food items and high calorie foods (like for instance red meat) leads to hypertension. Although there could be exceptions, in general it is believed that a consistent intake of very high calorie foods and processed foods also adversely impacts the mental faculties.

Consumption of excess calories needs to be burned through physical exercise and most men living in urban cities have sedentary lifestyles. Therefore this is the root of the problem, according to the physical fitness trainer.

Also working urban men have a tendency to work uninterrupted for long stretches and binge on high calorie and junk food when hungry. This ofcourse is again a red flag for health. Hence doctors and physical health experts suggest exercises like swimming, jogging, long walks, cycling and playing games like basket ball and football. Also doctors advise against taking any medicinal drug without a proper expert's advice and supervision as doing this may have adverse side-effects.

Social, economic, mental and physical wellbeing, as said earlier, are critical for a man's good health. Ailments like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hyper tension etc can all be eradicated if these four components of health and well-being are taken seriously enough.

In the earlier days people did not visit healthcare experts and gyms as frequently as they do now. However, they were much healthier. Good health comes from lack of stress, cohesive and healthy community living, peace of mind and a happy and healthy mental disposition. Unfortunately today's social and professional ecosystems are rarely conducive in the interests of overall health and wellbeing. Experts feel that one way of mitigating this problem is by incorporating healthy eating and sleeping habits and maintaining discipline in one's daily life and activities. Excesses should be refrained from. Men particularly have a tendency to indulge in excesses by way of alcohol and tobacco consumption. Health experts therefore reiterate the importance of refraining from alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Maintaining an equilibrium of the mind is of pivotal importance for all men. Picture a very common scenario- A man is unable to secure a well paying job and is economically unstable. Consequently, his mental condition worsens and he is prone to fights and arguments at home. With this situation persisting for a prolonged period, the man is likely to resort to intoxicants like alcohol and even drugs. Needless to say his health starts deteriorating. Therefore it is very important to engineer one's mental peace and stability despite the external chaos. Meditation, yoga and a genuine quest for spirituality can go a long way towards this. Cultivating hobbies and interests and indulging in family and community chores and activities is also very therapeutic and healthy. Last but not the least; one should never undermine the importance of routine health checkups as preventive healthcare is a must.

A quote by an American professor of public health and a consumer advocate, William M. London, truly summarizes this discussion- "To ensure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness and maintain an interest in life".

Also Read: 8 Constructive Pointers to Shield and Ameliorate Your Mental Well-Being

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