Earlier this month, Apollo Hospitals released its Health of the Nation report. The latest report reveals a worrying truth: India’s biggest health threats aren’t the ones we notice—they’re the ones we don’t.
This year, Apollo’s report’s findings go beyond the usual health warnings, giving a wakeup call. India’s NCD crisis is amplifying. Fatty liver, early heart disease, hidden vitamin deficiencies—these issues are showing up younger, faster, and even in people who seem perfectly healthy.
The report doubles down on a truth we have ignored too long: waiting for symptoms is a gamble we can’t afford anymore.
Here’s everything the report highlights:
From early warning to early action
The report is not just about what is happening but when it is happening. Diseases that once took decades to show up are now striking earlier—in children, women post-menopause and even healthy individuals.
We must catch problems early, act sooner, and build habits that prevent them before they take hold.
The solutions are already at our fingertips. From AI-powered early detection to smart lifestyle changes—healthier kitchens and daily movement—can move the needle.
But the question is: are we willing to use them?
The silent surge of non-communicable diseases
India’s biggest health threat is not contagious, it’s the NCDs. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, cancer, and mental health issues are now the nation’s top killers. They are creeping up silently while we are busy with daily life.
The numbers don’t lie: these lifestyle-linked conditions are outpacing infectious diseases as India’s primary health challenge.
What’s more troubling is that our healthcare system is still playing catch-up, and the solution demands more than medical intervention.
The wake-up call is clear:
- Prevention beats cure when diseases develop over decades
- Early detection is our most powerful weapon
- Both personal choices and systemic changes matter equally
Apollo report’s findings make one thing abundantly clear: we can no longer afford to be reactive when it comes to NCDs. Early detection, preventive measures, and smart management strategies are absolutely critical in tackling India’s growing health crisis.
In simple words, waiting for symptoms is a losing strategy. The solution lies in getting ahead of these conditions through regular screenings, lifestyle adjustments, and proper medical guidance.
The data leaves no room for debate:
Either we prioritise prevention now, or we will continue to be overwhelmed by the consequences. The choice is ours to make.
Unveiling hidden threats: Beyond routine checks
This year’s revelations go deeper than the usual warnings about NCDs. The report uncovers hidden dangers most routine checkups miss:
- Clogged arteries before symptoms appear (subclinical atherosclerosis)
- Fatty liver disease in people who don’t drink (NAFLD)
- Widespread vitamin deficiencies silently erode health
The findings focused on:
- Women’s unique health challenges across life stages.
- The forgotten pillars of fitness: strength, balance and flexibility
- Why one-size-fits-all healthcare fails today’s needs.
The report’s central thesis is revolutionary yet simple: India’s health future depends on shifting from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. This demands a three-fold approach:
- Smarter detection: Leveraging advanced diagnostics to catch risks years before symptoms emerge
- Sooner action: Implementing timely, targeted interventions when they are most effective
- Personalised pathways: Moving beyond generic advice to customised health strategies
This isn’t just theory, it’s proven practice that springs from analysed, anonymised data drawn from Apollo’s vast network of real patient cases.
The heart’s early whispers: Asymptomatic risks
The report reveals a troubling reality about heart health—danger often lurks long before any warning signs emerge. Among 3,106 seemingly healthy individuals with no prior heart disease history:
- 58% showed no symptoms, yet 46% already had calcium deposits in their arteries, signalling early-stage atherosclerosis.
- What’s even more concerning is that 1 in 4 of these “silent” cases had blocked arteries needing urgent treatment.
- Most startling of all: 2.5% were under 40, proving heart disease isn’t just a “senior citizen” problem anymore.
Why this matters
Routine checkups often miss these hidden risks. Without advanced cardiac screenings, thousands walk around with ticking time bombs in their chests—completely unaware.
Women’s health: Navigating the post-menopausal shift
Menopause is not just about hot flashes—it is a metabolic turning point. The report reveals how women’s health risks fundamentally change after menopause, with:
- Metabolic conditions like diabetes and hypertension surge due to hormonal shifts and weight changes
- Heart attack risks increase as estrogen levels reduce
- Nutritional deficiencies (anaemia, Vitamin D/B12) persist despite slight postmenopausal improvement
What is most critical? These risks do not come one at a time—they cluster together, creating a perfect storm of health challenges.
The findings show that we need:
- Pre-menopause prevention plans starting in the 40s
- Post-menopause specialised screenings beyond basic checkups
- Integrated care strategies addressing interconnected risks
The message is clear:
Women’s healthcare cannot stop at reproductive health. The menopause transition demands its science-backed protocol—and the time to develop it is now.
The liver’s silent struggle: Beyond alcohol
A startling revelation from the report shows our livers are under siege, and alcohol is not the main culprit. When 250,000 Indians were screened last year:
- 2 in 3 had fatty liver disease
- Half showed normal blood work, proving standard tests miss early warning signs
- Ultrasound scans revealed what blood tests couldn’t—silent liver damage already in progress
The medical community now calls this MASLD (Metabolic Liver Disease), because:
- 85% of cases occur in non-drinkers
- It’s tightly linked to obesity (76%), diabetes (82%), and hypertension (74%)
- Even pre-diabetics show alarming rates (70%)
Takeaway
The liver warns about deeper health problems—even if you feel fine. Old medical tests caught diseases after they started. Newer tools can spot hidden risks years earlier, giving us the chance to prevent serious problems instead of just treating them later.
The neglected foundation: Flexibility, strength, and balance
The report uncovers a hidden crisis in physical health that blood tests can’t measure:
- 78% of adults lack adequate flexibility, strength and balance
- 3 in 4 young adults under 25 already show concerning deficits
- This invisible decline sets the stage for future mobility issues and injuries
What is going wrong?
We have become so focused on weight and appearance that we have neglected the fundamentals:
- Joint mobility that prevents stiffness
- Functional strength for daily activities
- Balance that keeps us upright and independent
The wake-up call
Physical decline starts much younger than we assumed. The solution is to make strength and mobility training a lifelong habit, not just something we consider after retirement.
Nutritional gaps: Addressing hidden deficiencies
The report exposes a silent nutrition emergency most Indians do not realise they have:
- 45% of women are anaemic. This explains why fatigue has become the “new normal”
- Vitamin D deficiency affects 4 out of 5 adults, putting bones, immunity and mental health at risk
- Men are surprisingly vulnerable too with 38% lacking crucial B12 for nerve and brain function
Why this matters
These aren’t just lab abnormalities. They are the real reasons behind
- That unshakable tiredness
- Frequent aches and pains
- Brain fog that won’t lift
The hard truth
Today’s “balanced diets” often leave critical nutritional gaps. Between sedentary lifestyles, processed foods, and chronic stress, our bodies aren’t getting what they need—even when we think we’re eating well.
The early onset: NCD risk factors in students
The report uncovers an alarming trend that should concern every parent and educator: chronic diseases are no longer just an “adult problem.” Among 285,000 students screened across India:
- Obesity rates quadruple from primary school (8%) to college (28%)
- 1 in 5 college students already show prehypertension
- 2% of university attendees have elevated blood sugar—the first step toward diabetes
Why this should alarm us all:
- The foundation for heart disease, diabetes and stroke is being laid before graduation
- Childhood obesity nearly guarantees adult metabolic disorders
- Early hypertension often goes undetected until organ damage occurs
The silver lining
These risks are reversible with early intervention. The report makes an urgent case for:
- Mandatory school health screenings
- Age-appropriate nutrition education
- Physical activity requirements in the curriculum
The power of nudge: Guiding towards healthier choices
The report reveals a game-changing insight: we all need assistance to remind us to help ourselves. Apollo’s ProHealth program proves that a subtle, consistent nudge creates remarkable results:
- 47% of overweight participants trimmed their BMI
- 51% with hypertension achieved meaningful blood pressure drops
- 59% with diabetes improved their long-term blood sugar control
Why this works
- Regular check-ins prevent “out of sight, out of mind” neglect
- Achievable micro-goals feel less daunting than drastic overhauls
- Personalised tracking makes progress visible and rewarding
The bigger lesson
Health transformation does not require willpower alone. Well-designed systems that gently steer choices create lasting change where sheer determination often fails.
A call for proactive and personalised healthcare
Apollo Hospitals’ landmark Health of the Nation 2025 report delivers an urgent prescription for India’s healthcare future. We are treating diseases too late.
With NCDs affecting 60% of Indians by 2030, the choice is clear: Invest in prevention today or face overwhelmed hospitals tomorrow.
Conclusion
The report’s findings present an irrefutable case for reinventing our approach to health. Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, we need preemptive screening, tailored interventions, and sustainable daily habits supported by continuous monitoring and nudges.
This three-pronged strategy represents our best hope for reversing the NCD epidemic and closing India’s nutritional gaps. The data proves that generic, reactive healthcare is obsolete—the future belongs to predictive, preventive, and precision medicine.
-By Alkama Sohail and the AHT Team
