According to community medicine expert Ms. Nishanthi Gunawardena, 23% of the urban population in Sri Lanka is living with diabetes. Additionally, she noted that around 30% of urban residents are experiencing symptoms of hyperhydration, highlighting a growing health crisis in urban areas.
The prevalence of waterborne diseases has also risen, now affecting 14% of the population. Ms. Gunawardena attributed the increase in diabetes cases primarily to unhealthy dietary habits. Other contributing factors include a lack of exercise, insufficient sleep, and rising obesity rates.
Hypertension is emerging as a significant concern, with the potential to impact multiple systems in the body, including the heart, lungs, limbs, and nervous system. Alarmingly, Ms. Gunawardena reported that someone loses a limb to complications related to hydrocephalus every hour, underscoring the urgent need for public health interventions and increased awareness about these critical health issues.
