We Don’t Fall Sick From Germs Anymore, We Fall Sick From Our Habits

For decades, India’s biggest health battles were against infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and water-borne illnesses. Hospitals were filled with patients fighting infections, and public health systems focused on sanitation, vaccination, and access to basic care. That picture is changing rapidly, especially in urban India.

Today, doctors across cities are seeing a clear shift. Fewer patients are coming in with infectious diseases, and far more are being diagnosed with cancers and other non-communicable diseases linked to lifestyle. This transition isn’t sudden. It has been quietly building alongside urban growth.

“Lifestyle cancers are not appearing suddenly; they have grown with our daily choices,” says Dr Ajesh Raj Saxena, Surgical Oncologist at Apollo Hospitals. He explains that urban living has brought comfort, but also unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, tobacco use, pollution, and even unsafe food. “The real shift in India today is that we no longer fall sick only from infections; we fall sick from our daily habits.”

Doctors agree that one reason infectious diseases have declined is because India has made progress in public health. Dr Sandeep Kumar Tula, Radiation Oncologist, points out that immunisation programs, better sanitation, access to clean drinking water, and wider availability of antibiotics have played a major role. “Earlier diseases like malaria and tuberculosis were common. Over time, because people know these illnesses can be treated and healthcare is accessible, more people seek help early. That’s why infectious diseases have gradually come down,” he says.

But while infections reduced, another problem grew in parallel. Urban life today often means long sitting hours, processed food, stress, lack of sleep, and little time for physical activity. According to Dr Yugandhar Reddy, Senior Consultant Oncologist at CARE Hospitals, these habits slowly add up. “Infectious diseases have reduced because of better hygiene and vaccination, but lifestyle cancers are rising fast,” he says. “We are now diagnosing cancers like breast, colorectal, and lung cancer in much younger people than before. That’s the real concern.”

Age also plays a role. As life expectancy increases, so does cancer risk. Dr Tula explains that aging is an independent risk factor because the chances of genetic mutations increase over time. Urban India is also seeing lower fertility rates, which adds to breast cancer risk. At the same time, better awareness and screening mean more cancers are being detected than before.

“Earlier, many cancers went undiagnosed or unspoken,” Dr Tula adds. “Today, people talk about cancer, get screened, and seek treatment. That also makes the numbers appear higher.”

What makes lifestyle cancers especially dangerous is how silently they grow. “Unlike infections, lifestyle cancers don’t show up overnight,” says Dr M. A. Suboor Shaherose, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology, CARE Hospitals. “Urban life has made us busy, but not necessarily healthy. These factors damage the body slowly, without obvious symptoms.”

The hopeful part, doctors say, is that many lifestyle cancers are preventable or treatable if caught early. Dr Saxena sums it up with a simple reminder: “Urban living needs urban awareness.” He urges people to understand nutrition, remain active, break harmful habits, aim for cleaner air and safer food, and never skip screening.

Urban India has won many battles against infections. The next challenge is harder- fighting the diseases created by our own lifestyles. And this time, the cure doesn’t lie only in hospitals, but in everyday choices.