Why you should opt for preventive healthcare over symptomatic treatment

Apollo Hospitals, in the latest edition of its Health of the Nation 2025 report released on Monday, has raised an alarm over a ‘Silent Epidemic’ of lifestyle diseases affecting millions of Indians. The report stresses the urgent need to transition from treating symptoms to adopting nationwide culture of preventive healthcare. 

Also Read: Simple steps to keep Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease at bay

Based on over 2.5 million health screenings, the report reveals a troubling prevalence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver disease, most of them being asymptomatic. It urges individuals to prioritize preventive health before symptoms appear and calls for early, data-driven interventions to tackle these health threats. 

According to the data, 65% of those screened had fatty liver and remarkably, 85% of these cases were not linked to alcohol use. Hypertension was observed in 26% and diabetes in 23%, all without any symptoms being present. 

The report emphasises that preventive healthcare must be treated as an immediate necessity, not a distant goal. It advocated for embedding preventive practices into education systems, workplace wellness programs and everyday family life. 

A particularly concerning trend was observed in post-menopausal women, where diabetes rates jumped from 14% to 40%, obesity rose from 76% to 86% and fatty liver cases increased from 54% to 70%. 

The report also highlighted early onset of lifestyle-related conditions in the youth. Among college students, nearly one-third were overweight or obese, and 19% were found to be pre-hypertensive, showing that these conditions are emerging at younger ages than before. 

Mental health was another critical issue with 6% of the 47,000 people screened showing signs of clinical depression. 

The report also noted that one in four Indians screened are at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that contributes to heart problems, fatigue and metabolic disorders. Alarmingly, 46% of people without symptoms showed early signs of heart disease, such as atherosclerosis.