If we compare our older generations with the current one, we can observe that today’s generation has many more health complications. To find the reason that has led to this, we need to examine the change in our food and surroundings, new sophisticated developments, and human habits.

To start with, the food we eat today is not as healthy as compared to the olden times. Our consumption of fast food keeps increasing. With elements like obesity and high cholesterol, sitting on the table and providing unfriendly company to chain-fast food eaters, it is certain for them to develop health complications.

Secondly, the air in several countries like China and India has been polluted by harmful gases and poisonous chemicals released from factories. This is causing health problems like cancers in the lungs, breathing problems, blindness, etc.

Next is the ever growing human innovation, which many call our greatest assets. For example, the developments in the automobile industry have seen the best cars manufactured by humankind till date, but what this means is that this move has also led to increased pollution. Our latest cars which can drive at exhilarating high speeds mean more smoke released out of the silencers.

Last but not the least are human habits, obsessions or addictions, which are undoubtedly one of the leading causes of deaths. More teens and adults than ever, seem to be indulging in habits like smoking. Smoking can lead to lung cancer. In 2015, there were about 1.7 million deaths related to lung cancer globally. The predicted number of annual global lung cancer deaths is expected to rise further from an anticipated 2 million in 2020, to 3 million by 2035 at current rates.
Such habits may provide temporary satisfaction. When we already know the after effects, why do we still enjoy these habits and make them a routine?

We can reasonably say that, though our world is advancing in technology, infrastructure and population, we also need to be conscious that we are also advancing in being vulnerable to losing human population.

- The reader is a student based in Dubai