CURRENT THREATS TO GLOBAL HEALTH & AYURVEDA AT RESCUE

Increased Chemical use-Since the rise of organic chemistry all over the world overuse of many fertilizers, colours, hybrid food, food colours, drugs increased and slowly over a period of time due to its overuse it started causing many issues such as global warming, pollution, health issues like cancer, infertility, depression etc.

Population-In countries like India ever rising population is another factor causing bigger health issues, because more the population more the pollution, more the health issues.

Disturbed ecosystem-Many species of animals & plants are on the verge of extinction, some of them already being extinct, disturbing the ecosystem.

Extreme weather events- are becoming more common, higher highs, lower lows, droughts & more powerful storms all result into health damage & deaths.

Pollution-In 2019 air pollution is considered as the greatest environmental risk to health. 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air every day. Between 2030 to 2050 climate change is expected to cause 25000 additional deaths per year.

Mental health- Stress, depression, suicides now have become the terms of our daily use from our children to our elders.

Humanitarian crisis- World is facing multiple humanitarian crisis at the moment which is rising by every passing minute. People of all the age groups are facing physical & mental violence of all the kinds. Situations are so worse at some places of the world that people are being forced to migrate to unknown places from their homes, turning them into the refugees exposed to multiple health threats. Children & women are being at the maximum risk.

Epidemics-Outbreaks of Ebola in democratic republic of congo & other outbreaks like Zika, Nipah viruses represents the need to prepare for an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious epidemic.

Non communicable diseases- such as diabetes, cancer & heart disease, are collectively responsible for over 70% of all deaths worldwide.

Antimicrobial resistance- The development of antibiotics, antivirals & antimalarials are some of modern sciences greatest success. Now due to their prolong use the ability of bacteria, viruses & fungi to resist these medicines, make us stand when we were unable to treat infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis etc. The inability to prevent & treat infections could seriously compromise various surgeries, procedures such as chemotherapy and overall health world.

Overuse of Social Media- The world is just a small global village now due to the social media or internet. As much as it is helpful in creating health awareness, providing information about outbreaks of epidemics and providing preventive measures it has impacted global health in some deteriorating ways also and continuing to do so in one way or other.

We as a global population are more connected now than we have ever been due to the social media but overuse of social media can cause issues from lowering of one’s self esteem to depression along with issues like damage to the eyesight & concentration to many serious illness. Social media is a serious threat to the mental health.

All of these health challenges are mainly raising due to the constant distance we as humans are creating between us & nature. Ayurveda is the closest science to the nature, adopting it can help in a profound way. From the prevention through daily & seasonal regime, diet & lifestyle management to its treatments principles like Panchakarma, Ayurveda can provide overall health protection to everyone. One’s immunity plays important role in the adverse conditions to health like outbreak of epidemics and with the ways of Ayurveda can give a real boost to the immunity. These ways will be discussed in further blogs.

References:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019