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Arogyanikethanam – The Need
Life Style Disease – An Overview
During the 20th century communicable diseases being the major killers were given at most importance. With the improvement in socio-economic status, literacy, health education, invention of medicines and vaccines and increased facilities for treatment, we were able to conquer most of these communicable diseases and even eradicate some of them. In the 21st century, chronic non communicable diseases gained more importance among both developed and developing countries. These diseases are showing an upward growth in most of the countries and have become the major causes for the increasing morbidity and mortality and for several reason this upward trend is likely to increase in the future also. Life expectancy of people are increasing in all countries and a great number of people living to older ages are at a greater risk of developing chronic diseases. On the other hand lifestyles and behavioral patterns of people are changing rapidly and these changes are favorable for the development of Life Style Diseases. Absence of a known single causative agent and cumulative effects of multiple risk factors-environmental, behavioral or constitutional, are the main obstacles in the prevention and management of these disorders. Lifestyle diseases, or Diseases of Civilization, are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. The onset of these lifestyle diseases is insidious, they take years to develop, and once encountered do not lend themselves easily to cure.
The last two decades have visualized a multifold increase in the number of various chronic non communicable diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity (over weight), Dyslipidemia (elevated Cholesterol), Cancers, Accidents, Mental illnesses etc. Why this increase is a question that has been much debated in the medical fraternity. “Our genes have not changed for the past 100,000 years but we have changed from a primitive Hunter-Gatherer caveman to a sophisticated modern man.”
This self explanatory statement seems to be the most accepted answer. The gains in this transition include better living conditions, variety of foods, better transport and communication, eradication of communicable diseases etc. But the loses are more like more eating, faulty foods, less physical activity and mental stress, all leading to lifestyle diseases. Our dietary pattern has changed from a high fiber, low fat, natural diet to a low fiber, high fat artificial one. TV, videogames and computers have lead to bring down out door activities thereby lessening our physical exertion. Both these factors result in high energy input and low energy expenditure causing surplus energy stores in the body leading to obesity. Added to this is the additional hormonal burden in the body caused by stress leading to metabolic disturbances and eventually diseases.
Lifestyle diseases are different from other diseases because they are potentially preventable, and can be lowered with changes in diet, lifestyle, and environment. Treating only the physical manifestations of a disease without addressing the fundamental causes will give only temporary relief. The major factor determining the health of a person is that how much you can change your lifestyle. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, arthritis, and other illnesses benefit from comprehensive lifestyle changes. Also, there is increasing evidence that changing diet and lifestyle may reduce the risk of some of the most common forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. Even people without diseases or those at risk of developing illnesses do benefit.

Life Style Modification Centre – The Need
The last two decades witnessed a remarkable transition in the lifestyle pattern of Keralites from a primarily agriculture based, physically active population to a white collared population depending mainly on salaries and NRI remittances. This has resulted in a drastic change in the socio economic pattern of the society. This transition has occurred very rapidly in Kerala. Information revolution, new economic reforms and globalization have resulted in an explosive exposure of our people to consumer items across the world. The newly acquired wealth along with the changing perception about lifestyle has resulted in an increased accumulation of luxury consumer durables and changes in food habits. High consumption of calorie dense food, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, increased mental stress etc is some of these changes. This has resulted in increased incidences of lifestyle diseases among the population of Kerala. The complications of these diseases are the significant cause of increasing morbidity and mortality. Various studies conducted on this increasing incidence of morbidity and mortality has pointed towards the faulty lifestyle as the main culprit. Studies on the prevention of these diseases have stressed the need for lifestyle modification. The future of a healthy world rests in a healthy life style
Added to this is the additional burden of stress, a common companion of the fast track living of this century. We experience stress whenever we have to adapt to changes. The accompanying tension is a healthy response necessary for effective performance. But prolonged and excessive stress can cause ill health.
The inbuilt counseling centre within the joint family system in Kerala were also lost with the arrival of nuclear families. Various studies have pointed out that emotional stress increases blood sugar levels, blood levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and asthma independent of diet or medications. Emotional stress comes in two forms – acute and chronic. Whenever we are in stress, the body reacts to stress by activating a series of mechanisms collectively called fight-or-flight response. This occurs in two ways. The nerves from the brain directly stimulate the heart and make it beat faster and harder. It also causes other organs like adrenal glands to secrete stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Acute stress tends to increase adrenaline or noradrenalin secretion whereas chronic stress increases cortisol secretion. Unfortunately emotional stress nowadays tends to be chronic than acute. We often don’t have time to recover from one stressful situation before we get into another. When our stress mechanisms are chronically activated, these mechanisms designed to protect our body can become harmful. The ability to respond to stress and the ability to relax are equally important to function effectively while remaining healthy. The commonly used Stress management techniques include Yoga, stretching, breath awareness, meditation, prayer, guided imagery, visualization, progressive relaxation, and group support. In this lifestyle modification centre we help you to choose a programme that suits you the most and train you on it.

Every person is different, so are their lifestyles. The same clothing will not suit everyone. Hence providing customized personal programmes with constant monitoring and reinforcement is the only way to achieve behavioral modification.

This centre has these facilities helping people do it once they walk in...