Key Causes of Death in India:

• Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD): The primary killer, causing many cardiovascular deaths.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A major respiratory killer.
• Stroke: A significant contributor to mortality and disability.
• Respiratory Infections: Still a major concern, alongside other communicable diseases.
• Diabetes: A growing NCD leading to significant deaths.
• Cancer: Particularly affecting middle-aged populations.

Heart attacks are a major health crisis in India, affecting younger people earlier due to lifestyle changes, processed food, stress, diabetes, and smoking, leading to high rates of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with Indians facing 3-20x higher risk than other populations. Symptoms vary but include chest pain, breathlessness, nausea, and dizziness, with women often experiencing atypical signs like fatigue. Prevention involves healthy diet, exercise, quitting smoking, managing stress, and regular checkups, while immediate medical help is crucial for survival.

Key Statistics & Trends

• High Burden: India carries a disproportionate share of the global heart disease burden.
• Younger Onset: Indians often suffer heart attacks 5-10 years earlier than other populations, with fatal cases in ages 30-50 increasing
• Rising Cases: A 50% rise in heart attacks was seen between 2014-2019, with a surge in emergencies reported in places like Gujarat.

India faces a significant diabetes epidemic, with nearly 90 million adults currently affected and projections to exceed 135 million by 2045, making it a global hotspot, especially for Type 2 diabetes, driven by lifestyle changes, high rates of undiagnosed cases, and increasing prevalence in younger populations, though awareness and control remain challenges. Southern and coastal states generally see higher prevalence, while disparities exist across socioeconomic lines, with poorer, less educated, and rural populations facing greater hurdles in diagnosis and management, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and lifestyle changes.

Key Statistics & Trends

• High Prevalence: India has the second-highest number of adults with diabetes globally, with estimates around 89.8 million in 2024, rising from 32.7 million in 2000.
• Prediabetes: Millions more are prediabetic, at high risk.
• Urban vs. Rural: Diabetes is significantly more prevalent in urban areas (around 30%) compared to rural areas (around 15%).
• Rising in Youth: The issue is extending to children and younger people.
• Unawareness: Over half of people with diabetes are unaware of their condition, leading to delayed treatment and complications.

Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in India, with cases rising, leading to about 1.4 million new diagnoses annually, primarily affecting older adults, and high mortality rates often due to late detection, with breast, oral, lung, and cervical cancers being most common. Key risk factors include lifestyle (tobacco, poor diet, obesity), while government initiatives focus on awareness, screening, and promoting healthy living through programs like Eat Right India and Fit India Movement, though challenges persist in rural areas with late-stage diagnosis.

Key Statistics & Trends

• High Burden: India ranks high globally for cancer incidence and mortality, with ~1 in 9 people likely to develop cancer in their lifetime.
• Leading Cancers: Breast, oral, cervical, lung, and head & neck cancers are among the most prevalent.
• Age & Gender: Cancer risk increases significantly with age (over 50), with rising mortality among women
• Late Diagnosis: Around 70% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages (Stage 3-4) due to low awareness, lack of screening, and access issues.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a major health crisis in India, ranking as the second leading cause of death and disability (DALYs) after cardiovascular diseases, with tens of millions affected (around 55 million in 2016). Key drivers are household and outdoor air pollution (over 50%), tobacco (smoking beedis, cigarettes), and occupational dust, with a rising prevalence especially in less developed states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. India bears a significant global burden, with high DALYs per case compared to the world average, highlighting urgent management needs.

Prevalence & Burden

• High Numbers: Around 55.3 million people had COPD in 2016, increasing from 28.1 million in 1990.
• Mortality: It accounts for a significant portion of total deaths, rising from the 8th cause in 1990 to the 2nd by 2019.
• Regional Disparities: Burden is highest in less developed states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal

Stroke is a major and growing public health crisis in India, affecting 1.5-1.8 million people annually, becoming the second leading cause of death and third of disability, with a significant rise in BUF OF ALL STRIN younger adults due to factors like hypertension, diabetes, tobacco, and urbanization, despite efforts to raise awareness. The burden is increasing, with higher prevalence in urban areas, among educated, wealthier groups, and linked to lifestyle, with challenges in rural access and rehabilitation.

Key Statistics & Trends

• High Burden: 1.5 to 1.8 million strokes yearly in India, with incidence rates around 119-170 per 100,000 people
• Rising Younger Cases: 15-20% of stroke patients are under 45, a notable shift.
• Leading Cause: Ranks as the 2nd/4th leading cause of death and 3rd/5th cause of disability