Top 10 Health Concerns of the decade

In the last ten years, innumerable diseases and conditions have plagued mankind. From the recent Swine Flu pandemic to Cancer, AIDS and Obesity in children, we bring you a roundup of the most alarming ones which have managed to create ripples of tension in the minds of the young and old alike.

After sharing and discussing with several professionals and housewives across the country, we confirmed these health concerns with experts in the line of medicine and health. Here are top of the mind health concerns voiced by men, women and also children.

Heart diseases: Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. Now researchers say India, a country with more than one billion people, will likely account for 60 per cent of heart disease patients worldwide, by 2010. A study among Asian Indian men showed that half of all heart attacks in this population occur under the age of 50 years and 25 per cent under the age of 40, according to the Indian organization, Medwin Heart Foundation. Although more men die of heart disease than women, females tend to be under-diagnosed, often to the point that it's too late to help them once the condition is discovered.

Cancer: The good news is that survival rates have improved for many types of cancers in recent years. But, you can lower your risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Screenings also can help find some cancers early, when they are most treatable. Skin, lung, prostate, colon and testicular cancers are the ones that worry most men, while women feel anxious about breast cancer. It is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death for women. Experts say the fear of breast cancer can sometimes be exaggerated, stopping women from going to their doctors for screening, or pushing women to make rash decisions about mastectomy, when it may it may not be necessary.

HIV/ AIDS: The HIV/AIDS epidemic will affect women’s health in coming years. Rates of infection are found in population groups with certain high-risk behaviors (i.e., sex workers, intravenous drug users, and sexually transmitted disease patients). However, infection also is increasing in the general population. Despite the alarming growth of the epidemic, most women in India have very little knowledge of AIDS. Even among those who had heard of the disease, there were many misconceptions about modes of transmission.

Swine Flu: Soon after the outbreak of H1N1 virus in the United States and Mexico in March 2009, the Government of India started screening people coming from the affected countries at airports for swine flu symptoms. Till date there have been 852 confirmed H1N1 deaths in the country confirms the health ministry. What begins with sudden chills, cough, sore throat, headache and fatigue, worsen and lead to death if not detected on time.

Reproductive health: Many of the health problems of Indian women are related to or exacerbated by high levels of fertility. Research has shown that numerous pregnancies and closely spaced births erode a mother’s nutritional status, which can negatively affect the pregnancy outcome. Unwanted pregnancies terminated by unsafe abortions also have negative consequences for women’s health.

Osteoporosis: A largely preventable disease, the behaviors that women develop in their childhood, in their adolescence, and in their early adult years really play a significant role in the development of osteoporosis. That's because bodies build up most of bone mass until age 30. Then new bone stops forming and the focus is on maintenance of old bone. It is never too late to keep bones strong and avoid fractures.

Depression: Depression appears to affect more women than men. Research has proved that women need a connection with others in their lives. They need that sustenance and if they don't have it, they tend to get depressed.

Unintentional injuries: Accidents, also called unintentional injuries, are the third leading cause of death around the world. They account for 1 of every 4 people treated in an emergency department. Death can result from motor vehicle accidents, falls and fires.

Diabetes: More than 9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Many men don't even know they have it until they develop problems such as erectile dysfunction, vision loss, or kidney disease.

Obesity: A difficult condition to treat, obesity and overweight rates for children and teens have been steadily rising. Children who are obese face serious health problems, including asthma, joint pain, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. In the poll parents reported that they discuss at length limiting junk food and physical activity. However, most do not curtail TV time.