Greater Noida has emerged as a vibrant hub in India’s real estate landscape, attracting both investors and homebuyers with its promising potential. However, beneath this economic success lies a pressing health crisis within the community.
Medical professionals from Fortis Hospital, Greater Noida on Thursday at an event raised alarms over alarming trends, including rising obesity rates, respiratory allergies, hepatitis C, cardiac complications, metabolic dysfunction, and irritable bowel syndrome.
On the occasion of the 2nd Anniversary of the hospital, they called for increased awareness and proactive health management in the region.
Dr. Jagdish Chander, Director, General Surgery of the hospital stated, “In Greater Noida, we generally see two disease categories—gallstones and hernia—similar to trends across northern India. However, we are noticing a significant spike in obesity cases, particularly among teenagers and young adults in Greater Noida.
This can be attributed to recent improvements in prosperity and changing eating habits, with many consuming unhealthy foods alongside nutritious options. He also urged the State health authorities to conduct survey in the region given huge rise in the cases of Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis often goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages, making its transmission all too common. Dr. Chander emphasized the importance of early detection, as symptoms can be vague and resemble those of other illnesses. Signs such as fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and abdominal pain should trigger a visit to a healthcare provider.
Regular check-ups are especially crucial for individuals at higher risk, including those with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, and individuals who have received blood transfusions or tattoos. Early recognition and proactive health management can significantly improve outcomes for those affected.
Dr Chander, who had his medical stints in various government hospitals in the past also talked about yet another concerning health trend among youth in the region.
“Due to heavy consumption of chicken and other foods that may contain steroids, both boys and girls are experiencing excessive hair growth.
“Hair growth, combined with obesity, can lead to a condition known as pilonidal sinus. Pilonidal sinus is difficult to treat and recurrence is common even after successful surgery,” he warned.
On the other hand, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Director, Pulmonology & Critical Care, Fortis Hospital Greater Noida pointed out health complications post Covid. He emphasised, “In the post-COVID era, we are observing a significant rise in respiratory allergies, neurological diseases, and cardiac complications. The allergic tendencies have increased remarkably, with heart complications now occurring in patients as young as their 20s.
“Furthermore, prolonged effects of neurological issues are becoming more apparent across various age groups. This may be the impact of Covid infection.”
Dr Apurva Pande, Consultant, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, was of the view that post-Covid, we have been witnessing a sharp rise in Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Liver Disease (MASLD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The shift to a work-from-home culture has resulted in a more sedentary lifestyle, which is a major contributor to the growing prevalence of MASLD, particularly among adults aged 20 to 40, he said.
“Furthermore, stress related to remote work is one of the major factors in the increased incidence of IBS, affecting a diverse demographic ranging from 15 to 70 years old. Common triggers for IBS include stress, dietary habits, and gut sensitivity.”
Dr. Praween Kumar, CEO of the hospital delved on two years of contribution in the health sector, saying that “we have successfully provided quality medical care to over 1 lakh patients and performed more than 4,000 surgeries. Our mission is to provide exceptional medical care while addressing the evolving health challenges within the community.”
Dr Kumar also said that on their part, they are trying to reachout to the community and have plans to hold various health awareness campaigns to educate people about their health.
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