Dynamic, evolving diseases and democratization of healthcare
New Era for Diseases
I am not a doctor, but being closely associated with the field, seeing it from multiple directions at a macro level, makes me a person capable of telling what I am about to share. A person deeply intrigued with the field of medicine tends to work at a micro level and might be prejudiced by long and intense study of the field. I can with confidence say that the biochemical processes of the human body and the process of evolution, shaped over a long human history, are now changing over spans of decades. Let this New Year remind us that health is no longer a static concept. It is dynamic, interconnected, and deeply influenced by social, environmental, and economic forces.
As each New Year begins, it brings with it a sense of renewal, hope, and reflection. But it also quietly carries forward the realities of a world in transition. Climate patterns are shifting, ecosystems are under stress, and an enormous gamut of products we manufacture to make our day-to-day life easier is reacting with the environment and human health in ways we are only beginning to fully understand. The diseases we face today—and those emerging tomorrow—are no longer shaped by biology alone. They are increasingly driven by factors like climate change, rapid urbanization, globalization, and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Climate Change and the Rise of New Health Risks
Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is a present-day public health challenge. Rising global temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, and heat waves are altering the geographic spread and intensity of diseases. Vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and Zika are expanding into new regions as warmer climates allow mosquitoes to survive and breed in areas that were once unsuitable. Seasonal patterns are becoming unpredictable, leading to longer transmission periods and more frequent outbreaks.
Extreme weather events also play a direct role in disease spread. Floods contaminate drinking water, increasing the risk of waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Prolonged droughts reduce access to clean water and food, contributing to malnutrition and weakened immunity, especially among children and the elderly. Heat-related illnesses—heatstroke, dehydration, kidney stress, and cardiovascular complications—are rising steadily, particularly in urban areas where heat islands amplify temperature extremes.
Fig:Evolving Diseases with Evolution of Mankind
From Acute Illness to Chronic Burden
One of the most striking shifts in the disease paradigm is the transition from acute infectious diseases to chronic and lifestyle-related conditions. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancers, and mental health conditions are rising at an alarming rate. These illnesses are not just medical issues; they are closely linked to how we live, work, eat, and cope with stress. At the same time, infectious diseases have not disappeared. Instead, they have evolved. Emerging and re-emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, and zoonotic diseases highlight the fragile balance between humans, animals, and the environment.
Impact of manufacturing activities
It has been two centuries since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and with every new technological breakthrough, the pace of growth has increased. The technological revolutions have brought in new elements in the form of factory emissions released into the air; industrial and urban waste into land, water bodies, and agricultural chemicals into the land, culminating in the cycle of life. Fine particles (PM2.5) and toxic gases enter our airways, causing asthma, COPD, and reduced lung development in children. Microplastics, heavy metals, and chemical reagents get into the body through water, pesticides, and insecticides enter our body through the food chain, causing kidney and liver damage, hormonal imbalances, neurological diseases, etc. These processes have resulted in occurrences of chronic conditions at younger ages, an increase in allergies and autoimmune diseases, and an increase in cancer. These processes change our body at the cellular and genetic level, the scope of which we are still fully trying to understand.
Mental Health Takes Center Stage
Another important shift is the growing recognition of mental health as an integral part of overall well-being. Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout have become common in fast-paced, uncertain times. The New Year urges us to move beyond stigma and acknowledge that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health.
This changing paradigm recognizes that health is holistic—mind, body, and social well-being are inseparable.
Post-COVID: A New Layer of Vulnerability
The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed our understanding of global health. Even as the acute phase of the pandemic has subsided, its long-term effects continue to shape the disease landscape.
Post-COVID conditions often referred to as “long COVID,” have introduced a new category of chronic illness affecting respiratory, neurological, cardiovascular, and metabolic health. Fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, and immune dysregulation are now common concerns, adding pressure to healthcare systems already stretched thin.
Moreover, the pandemic disrupted routine healthcare services worldwide. Delayed vaccinations, postponed screenings, and interrupted treatment for chronic diseases have created a silent backlog of health issues that are now resurfacing.
Mental health has emerged as a parallel pandemic. Anxiety, depression, burnout, and social isolation—exacerbated by lockdowns and uncertainty—continue to affect people across all age groups. Climate-related disasters further compound this psychological stress, creating a cycle of physical and mental vulnerability.
Rethinking Public Health for the Future
As we move into a new year, the changing disease paradigm demands a shift in how we think about health. Disease prevention can no longer be separated from environmental action. Climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, early disease surveillance, community awareness, and stronger public health policies are essential.
At an individual level, awareness is the first step—understanding how climate, lifestyle, and immunity intersect. At a societal level, investing in sustainable development, clean energy, and equitable healthcare access is no longer optional; it is preventive medicine.
Democratising of data Redefining Healthcare Technology
Evolving technologies have also brought a digital revolution in healthcare. Artificial intelligence, telemedicine, wearable devices, and data-driven diagnostics are transforming disease detection and management. Healthcare is shifting from reactive treatment to predictive and preventive care.
Patients today are more informed and more involved in their health decisions. There is a need to share healthcare data in a safe and transparent way, making it possible to develop and deploy large-scale machine learning based models that would open up new avenues in disease detection and the development of medical care delivery processes. The disease paradigm is moving from hospital-centric care to personalized, patient-centric models—where early detection, lifestyle modification, and continuous monitoring play a central role. The process of treatment will be continuously participative in nature, necessitating it to be democratic in nature.
-------Author: Team Saistho.
--------------------------------------