Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 05, 2007
ePaper
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Sunday, Aug 05, 2007 ePaper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tamil Nadu |
|
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary |
Tamil Nadu
Ramya Kannan
If you do not know it yet, we, in Chennai, are eating ourselves to ill health. About 66 per cent of Chennaiites have some form of acidity or heartburn, according to a recent study conducted in eight cities by Health Care Welfare Society. The study also shows that food-related problems comprise the largest chunk of reasons relating to acidity. Chennai falls into the pattern that all the metros had set, with irregular timing of meals and eating out turning out to be the main culprits. Commissioned initially as a consumer study on the substances/drugs used to ease heartburn, the study results also threw up some startling facts, throwing up more numbers than were feared. While Chennai does not top the list of eight metros surveyed and figures, the situation being slightly better in terms of the percentage of people, there cannot be any room for comfort. Delhi is the worst performer, with 82 per cent of the population suffering from heartburn, acid reflux, leading to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Mumbai follows next with 75 per cent of the population affected and Bhopal taking the third place with 71 per cent of its population complaining of the symptoms. The study was also done in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Kolkata. About 400 respondents in the age group 25 – 55 years, who suffer from heartburn at least once a month, were questioned. Increased consumption of spicy, chilly-based food, fries such as pizzas, burgers, chips are at the heart of this near gastritis problem. Stress, lack of sleep, irregular eating habits and long work hours compound the problems. Specifically in Chennai, irregular food intake is the chief cause of heartburn, followed by eating out. While for some people episodes of heartburn are occasional and can be handled by avoiding certain foods, there are others for whom symptoms are less frequent and cause regular discomfort. S. Surendran, head, gastroenterology department, Stanley Medical, says almost everyone walking into the gastro outpatient unit suffers from either acidity or heart burn or both. “There is no doubt whatsoever that the numbers have increased and it is mainly because of changes in lifestyle,” he said. Eating out has become common and for some people it has become unavoidable. “Even if you must eat out, carefully choose what you eat. Pick up steam-cooked foods, those with less oil, spices and natural antacids like buttermilk and lassi. Avoid on-the-go snacks, which are mostly fried to increase taste,” Dr. Surendran advised. Lifestyle changes
S.M.Chandramohan, head of surgical gastroenterology, Government Royapettah Hospital, explained that lifestyle modifications would definitely help. On his prescription are eating on time, avoiding junk food, alcohol and tobacco, and stopping short of eating full stomach. “Stop just when you think you can have one more idli and never lie down immediately after a meal,” is what he tells his patients.
Printer friendly
page
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | The Hindu ePaper | Business Line | Business Line ePaper | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Home |
Copyright © 2007, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
