Are the residents of Mumbai more likely to succumb to diseases?
22 Mar, 2015As per the data obtained from the Maharashtra state health department, BMC and private hospitals in the city of Mumbai, the city has acquired the dubious distinction of heading the list of deaths due to heart-related diseases. Heart-related diseases are the biggest killer in Maharashtra and between 2001 and 2012, it has lead to 2,22,707 deaths due to heart attacks in the state. Data shows that over 1,65,586 have died of the disease in Mumbai between 2011 to 2014. The figures translate into 27 deaths every day due to heart ailments or a monthly 810 deaths.
Maharashtra witnessed a total of 1,85,279 deaths due to tuberculosis between 2001 and 2012, while cancer was the cause of death in 1,21,643 cases during the same period. As per statistics obtained by Chetan Kothari, the city of Mumbai witnessed 1,13,686 deaths between 2001 and 2014 due to Tuberculosis which correspond to an average of 23 deaths daily. On an average, the city has witnessed 13 deaths daily attributable to cancer. It speaks poorly about the living conditions of the city touted as the financial capital of the country. The reasons range from overcrowding, flawed lifestyle (no exercise, consumption of junk food, stress, obesity, Smoking and tobacco chewing), unhygienic conditions, uncontrolled diabetes, malnutrition and poor immune system.
AIDS is another leading cause of deaths in the city which has claimed 10,948 lives in BMC and private hospitals of Mumbai while the toll in the state has been 27,771. Further, other diseases that have been a major cause of death include kidney and liver failures, typhoid, jaundice, dengue, malaria, viral fever and cholera.