Lifestyle Choices Fuel Epidemics of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Among Asian Indians.
Within the next 15years, India is projected to overtake China as the world's most populous nation. Due to the rapid pace of urbanization and modernization fueling population growth, in conjunction with a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance, India is suffering a rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and stroke. In addition to the genetic predisposition, major negative lifestyle factors are contributing to the alarming outbreak of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the Asian Indian population; these factors include: 1) a diet high in added sugar, refined grains and other processed foods, 2) physical inactivity, 3) vitamin D deficiency (VDD), and 4) smoking/pollution. These risk factors are all highly modifiable, and steps to improve these issues should be taken urgently to avoid a worsening NCD crisis among the inhabitants of the South Asian subcontinent as well as for people with Asian Indian ethnicity worldwide.
Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
Evan L
EL
O'Keefe
Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO.
James J
JJ
DiNicolantonio
Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO.
Harshal
H
Patil
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO.
John H
JH
Helzberg
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. Electronic address: clavie@ochsner.org.
Carl J
CJ
Lavie
D044466:Asian People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D058872:Epidemics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D013997:Time Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology
D004785:Environmental Pollutants
Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery disease; Exercise; Metabolic syndrome; Sugar; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Vitamin D