An Important Study on the Influence of Modern Lifestyles on the Health of Students and Staff in a Pharmacy School in India: Behavioral Theory Volume 54- Issue 4

Rahul Hajare* and Makarand Gambhire

• Sandip University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India

Received: December 28, 2023; Published: January 30, 2024

*Corresponding author: Rahul Hajare, Sandip University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maviravani, Nashik, India

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2024.54.008598

Abstract PDF

Vitality is important. A healthy lifestyle is a way of living that reduces the risk of being severely ill. In 1967, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are in the lead for global health risks. This study explored the impact modern lifestyle has on the health of pharmacy school of students and staffs. Our study included a literature review, and a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions which were answered by 80 participants which targeted; diet, exercise regimen, sleep cycle, alcohol, and substance use, technology use. From the responses, 63.1% of respondents practice sedentary lifestyle (Table 1), 68.4% skip breakfast and 35.5% have an unhealthy diet (Table 2). There is a need for individuals to pay attention to their daily practices as modern lifestyle can have a negative impact on quality of life.

Keywords: Modern Lifestyle; Healthy Lifestyle; Unhealthy Lifestyle; Sedentary; Lifestyle Practices; Pharmacy Students; Staffs

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a healthy lifestyle “as a way of living that reduces the risk of being severely ill, dying at an early age, and helps you enjoy more aspects of your life and vitality. An unhealthy lifestyle is a way of living that consists of activities or ways of living that are detrimental to one's health. These include skipping breakfast, eating food high in bad cholesterol, drinking too much alcohol, drinking too much soda, spending too many hours glued to technology, smoking, not exercising, and not keeping a healthy weight. In 1967, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are in the lead for global health risks. An unhealthy diet is one of the risk factors associated with a series of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, tooth decay, ricket, osteomalacia, goiter, cancer, diabetes, and other disorders associated with obesity. As stated by WHO, 60% of factors related to personal health and quality of life are contributed by their way of living. [1] Our human diet has undergone extreme changes in recent years. such changes include a diet high in sugar and salt, high in bad cholesterol, low in fibers, low macro and micro nutrients and water plus the introduction of Genetically modified organisms and plants (GMOs) in the last five decades which is likely to continue. [2] Modifications to the DNA may be directly influenced by diet leading to changes in health status, or ‘programming’ the genome so that it responds to nutrients throughout the lifetime of the organism.

Moreover, it has recently been demonstrated that gene expression and DNA regulation is highly dynamic and changes in response to age, physical exercise, and diet. [3,4] Healthy diets arising either by tradition or design, share many common features and generally align with the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of noncommunicable Diseases. In comparison with a Western diet, healthier alternatives are higher in plant-based foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts and lower in animal-based foods, particularly fatty and processed meats. [5] It is said that health is one of the fundamental and most important values of life for every individual. [6] The right lifestyle can be achieved when a person has adequate knowledge of its diet and significance. A healthy lifestyle consists of eating a well-balanced meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, proteins, low salt and sugar, decreasing or if possible, stopping tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, maintaining a healthy weight and also providing an adequate amount of nutrients and calories necessary for good health. These things all contribute to not only a long life but an enjoyable one as well. Active people are not only fit but they also have better memory and are able to focus better due to the greater amount of oxygen supplied to the brain.” [7] They also have the added benefits of reduced stress, lower blood pressure, strong bones, decrease risks of myocardial infarction and stroke, decrease risk of type 2 diabetes plus metabolic and energy boosting.

In regard to the use of technology, there are many benefits, but it also has potential harmful effects which include heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, technology addiction, decreased social interaction, impaired brain development, and poor sleep quality. [8] Excessive and pathological internet use has been recognized as an internet addiction, which shares features with substance-use disorders or pathological gambling. Common features include preoccupations, mood changes, development of tolerance, withdrawal, and functional impairment. [9] You and colleagues reported that schoolchildren with internet addiction experienced significantly greater symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity than non–internet-addicted students. [10] According to WHO, approximately 1 in 3 adult Americans are sleeping less than 7 hours per night (37.1%), an amount at which physiological and neurobehavioral deficits manifest and become progressively worse under chronic conditions [11] Based on past research people tend to have positive health and lifestyle choices in certain areas of their lives while neglecting others. [12] From their results, we see that when it comes to diet, physical activity, and alcohol usage people are not as consistent compared to their sleep, mental health, and smoking pattern. [12] With the huge amount of development and knowledge in technology and science that 21^st century has acquired over the years in the fight against diseases and infections, there is still a need for improvement in the aspect of living a healthy lifestyle. For the case of this research, modern characteristics would be the use of technology and sedentary lifestyle (Table 1), and an unhealthy diet (Table 2) The overall aim of this research is to assess the impact of the modern way of life on the health of pharmacy students and staffs. For this research work, we will consider the definition of a healthy lifestyle as a way of living that diminishes the risk of being severely ill.

The main focus of this research will be on diet, exercise regimen, alcohol, substance abuse, the use of technology as well as sleep cycle. This would enable us to answer the following questions:

• Does modern lifestyle affect pharmacy students and staff’s health?

• Does modern lifestyle have a negative influence on the health of pharmacy students and staffs?

• Does modern lifestyle have a positive influence on the health of pharmacy students and staff?

This research was conducted in a pharmacy school in India September to December 2022. The research method included 28 questions from a self-created questionnaire designed using a google form after extensive literature review. The questionnaire was provided to students and staffs of pharmacy School electronically via the school group chat and took part in the questionnaire. 77 people filled the questionnaire but only 76 responses were used due to one response being incomplete. The age group ranged from 20-60+ and Informed consent was added to the questionnaire for ethical purposes. The questionnaire was anonymous and collected immediately upon completion.

Data Collection

The data was compared to literature reviews, analyzed using SPSS, and compiled into tables. Literature reviews were made by searching through databases such as google scholar, PubMed, and Research Gate. Keywords search included “modern lifestyle and health”, “modern lifestyle and healthy living” and “modern life's influence on health”.

Results were obtained from 77 pharmacy students and staffs, but one declined participating. Of the 76 participants, the majority were females. The age range was from 20-60+ with the majority of participants falling between ages 20-25.

Sedentary Lifestyle (Table 1)

From the responses we observe that 18.4% pharmacy students and staffs spend 7-9+ hours a day on social media and watching TV, it is also seen that 15.8% pharmacy students and staffs get 1-4 hours of sleep daily.

Sedentary lifestyle (Taxi use, social media use, TV watching and sleeping hours).

Table 1: Sedentary lifestyle.

Unhealthy Diet (Table 2)

Based on the responses, 27.6% pharmacy students and staffs drink1 liter of water per day. 1.3% pharmacy students and staffs stated that they drink 5-6 bottles of alcohol a day, and 6.6% pharmacy students and staff smoke daily and of that 6.6%, 1.3% pharmacy students and staffs stated they smoke 3-4 packs a day. Unhealthy diet (skipping breakfast, not eating healthy, alcohol consumption, cigarettes smoking, fast food consumption, cooking habit, water drinking, and soda drinking).

Table 2: Unhealthy Diet.

Family Medical history (Table 3)

46% pharmacy students and staffs have a family medical history, with 18.4% having diabetes,1.3%obesity, 1.3% breast Cancer, 21.2% high Blood pressure, 2.6% asthma, 1.3% adenomyosis.

Table 3: Family Medical history.

The questionnaire targeted pharmacy students and staffs. While analyzing the results, it was seen that modern lifestyle has an adverse effect on the health of pharmacy students and staffs of pharmacy colleges. These adverse effects were on sedentary lifestyle (Lack of exercise 27.6%, and everyday use of taxi 35.5% and social media use as seen on Table 1), skipping breakfast (68.4%, Table 2) and unhealthy diet (35.5%) as seen on Table 2 and Family medical History (Table 3).

Sedentary Lifestyle (Table 1)

Sedentary comes from the Latin word Sedere, meaning “to sit”, which describes the idle population that do not take part in physical activities as seen on Table 1 which shows that 35.5% of pharmacy students and staffs use taxi every day, 5.3% and 2.6% spend time glued on social media and TV watching respectively. Examples of a sedentary lifestyle include sitting for long periods of time while traveling by air, water or road, watching tv for a very long period of time, social media use for a very long period of time, playing video games, as well as activities that requires you sitting down for a very long period of time with Little or no exercise. [13] According to Small, Gary W. et. al, excess exposure to the screen lights of our gadgets (phones, iPads, computers) has a damaging effect on cognitive and behavioral aspects of the brain which leads to insomnia (decrease in sleeping time) and sleeplessness. This correlates with our results which shows that 5.3% of pharmacy students and staffs spend 1- 2hrs sleeping and 10.5% spend 3- 4hrs sleeping as shown on Table 1. [14] Insomnia is associated with decrease concentration and focus, when performing given tasks, sluggishness in performing daily activities, short- and long-term memory loss and increases the risk of developing neuro cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s. [15] Based on the research conducted by Mavrovouniotis. F, it is shown that some people willfully decide not to get involved in any form of physical activities whatsoever. [16] Physical inactivity is one of the contributing factors to some chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Skipping Breakfast (Table 2)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast is a way the body refills its energy requirement which is needed to start the day and also provides nutrients required by the body for its normal functioning. This energy is important for normal functioning of the brain, and other organs. Eating breakfast has been linked to reduced incidence of illnesses, good memory, and increased concentration. Skipping breakfast can lead to many health conditions,such as obesity. [17] From our research conducted, it is seen that 64.4% of pharmacy students and staffs skip breakfast while 31.6% do take breakfast every morning.

Unhealthy Diet (Table 2)

A healthy diet is one in which carbohydrates, proteins and fats are consumed in the right proportions to support physiologic processes and energy requirements, while also providing enough vitamins, minerals and hydration to meet the physiological needs of the body. [18] On the other hand, an unhealthy diet is one which does not provide the body with water and a variety of nutrients for good health. Unhealthy foods include meals high in sugars, salts, cholesterol and food low in fibers and vitamins. Excessive intake of fast and processed foods increases health illnesses with 10.5% and 1.3% of pharmacy students and staffs ordering fast food 2-3times and 4-5 times a day respectively. Excess sugar consumption is associated with weight gain and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer [19]. 46.1% and 2.6% of pharmacy students and staff drink 1-2 and 3-4 bottles of soda a day with 18.4% having a Family history of Diabetes, 1.3% family history of obesity and 1.3% having a family history of breast cancer. Water is the main constituent of the body, constituting most of the lean body mass and total body weight. It hydrates the body, provides about 20% of important ions (calcium and magnesium) to the body and also transports vitamins, minerals, trace elements and electrolytes. From our research conducted, it is seen that 64.5% of pharmacy students and staffs eat healthy with 40.7% and 10.5% drinking 3-4 and 5-6 liters of water respectively (See Table 2). [20] Some disadvantages of not drinking enough water include dehydration, constipation, fatigue, and dry mouth. Chronic dehydration can cause renal calculi and eventually renal failure.

From Table 2, it is seen that 48.9% of pharmacy students and staffs do not consume a lot of water (1-2liters) per the daily water recommendation of 2.7-3 liters. Research from Fortunka, K, states that Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes contains toxins that are harmful to the body. Nicotine and alcohol alter metabolic processes in the body, leading to manydiseases. They also have a high rate of dependence, leading to addiction which has psychological and social consequences. [21] Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon as well as vitamin B1 deficiency which leads to Wernicke encephalopathy. 5.3% and 1.3% of pharmacy students and staff drink 1-2 and 5-6 bottles of alcohol respectively, 2.6% and 1.3% smoke ½ pack and 3-4 packs of cigarettes respectively with the remaining 86.8% and 96.1% not drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes respectively. Modern lifestyle has led to a significant change in human diet, and a decline in exercise and human activity. Western diet, GMO-ingredients, and sedentary lifestyle has been linked to the obesity epidemic. The rising number of obese individuals may be due in part to an energy-rich diet as well as insufficient physical exercise. [12,22] According to WHO, GMOs can be defined as organisms (i.e., plants, animals, or microorganisms) in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating andor natural recombination. According to Myers S, dietary factors can alter genetic processes such as transcription and translation. The consumption of such foods might increase the risk of developing a particular disease in genetically susceptible people (family medical history) such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cancer. Thus, a healthy diet is important for these cases to reduce the incidence of such diseases or worsening of already existing conditions.

There are several limitations to this study. First, it’s a cross sectional study so we cannot analyze lifestyle over time. There might have been a response bias from participants, which might have resulted in exaggeration of responses on their use of social media and dietary lifestyle. Another limitation we had with our study is the small participant group.

From the results it is recommended that pharmacy students and staffs need to make changes to their lifestyle in the following ways: eating a fruit or vegetable with each meal, developing a habit of cooking more healthy foods, drinking more water, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, and eating a healthy breakfast every morning, spend less time on social media and engage with nature. There is a need for individuals to pay attention to their daily practices as modern lifestyle can have a negative impact on quality of life. The specific lifestyle affected are in-activity, skipping breakfast, and unhealthy eating habits.

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