Indians Now Have Longer Lifespan, but Live In Poor Health

The study was conducted over five years by 486 authors from over 300 institutes in 50 countries, including India and it was published in the medical journal, The Lancet.

It was noted that globally, high blood pressure was the single biggest causative agent of disease, while it was indoor air pollution (IAP) for Indians, which is in the form of burning wood, coal and animal dung as fuel in chulhas (stove), mostly in rural India.

The WHO had earlier revealed that burning solid fuels to prepare food emit carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde which can lead to asthma, blindness, pneumonia, lung cancer, tuberculosis and low birth weight. WHO estimates that pollution levels in rural Indian kitchens are 30 times higher than suggested levels and six times more than air pollution levels found in the national Capital.

The other threats to average Indians include high blood glucose levels, diet low in fruits, alcohol use, sub optimal breast feeding, iron deficiency, low physical activity and occupational injuries.

Also Read: India, Lowest Consumer of Cigarettes Annually