A Literary Review on Lifestyle Intervention Through Ayurveda in Increasing Pattern of Non-Communicable Diseases due to Urbanization.

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are of increasing concern for global health due to their high mortality rate. The major risk factors of NCDs can be classified into categories of self-management, genetic factors, socio-demographic factors, environmental factors and factors of medical conditions. Consuming alcohol, smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are the vulnerable risk factors. NCDs are driven by factors like rapid unplanned urbanization, unhealthy lifestyle and aging also. The metabolic risk factors include hypertension, increased blood sugar level & blood pressure may be due to unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, lead to NCDs.

The description of bahudosha, snatarpanjanya vyadhi, medoroga and santarpanjanya prameha in Ayurveda has similarity to metabolic risk factors. The management of these conditions in Ayurveda involves predominantly Aahara (proper diet), Vihara (physical activity, exercise and stress management) and shodhana (purification). The main focus is on the elements of self-management and to understand the importance of lifestyle intervention and risk factors modification in order to prevent NCDs at all stages of life.

This paper will discuss epidemiological data of non-communicable disease and urbanization. The review of this condition along with its management from Ayurveda perspective and its importance in clinical practice will be discussed.