The future of your health and care is getting more important now than ever before. As the new year begins, Mumbai’s health experts highlight emerging priorities—from preventive care to mental health—while warning of worsening pollution-linked health trends
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Amid the happiness of entering the new year, many people are pondering their life choices, and like always, health remains a top priority — especially in a post-Covid world. People, except those who were immunocompromised, were mostly carefree earlier, but doctors say the need to prioritise health is now greater than ever.
More importantly, making healthy choices is not only for the old but also for younger adults, who are increasingly being affected by lifestyle-related health issues.
The fact that air pollution is no longer an environmental issue but a growing health concern, say doctors, makes it even more necessary for us to focus on our health in 2026.
As you take on the new year, Mumbai doctors highlight key health trends spanning both physical and mental wellbeing — not to alarm, but to guide people in the right direction. They predict preventive healthcare to become the need of the hour, along with a sharper focus on mental health, which increasingly impacts physical wellbeing in more ways than many realise.
Dr Chhya Vaja, internal medicine expert, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chembur
As 2026 approaches, the focus is shifting towards preventive healthcare rather than treatment alone. People are likely to undertake regular health screenings to detect conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancers at an early and more manageable stage, thereby improving quality of life.
Preventive health check-ups that include cholesterol, blood sugar, and heart assessments are expected to become a routine part of adult life rather than something done only when symptoms appear. The aim is to encourage everyone to go for timely health check-ups to identify problems early.
Fitness will go beyond weight loss, with attention to strength training and mental well-being.
Daily physical activity, stress management in the form of yoga and meditation, and quality sleep will be key factors for improving overall wellness.
Heart health awareness is also set to grow, with people paying closer attention to lifestyle habits such as diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation, along with regular cardiac screening. Cancer screening — including breast, cervical, head and neck, lung, and colorectal cancers — is expected to gain wider acceptance, encouraging timely diagnosis to save lives.
The year 2026 is expected to play a significant role in transforming India’s healthcare sector through greater awareness and preventive care.
Dr Hemalata Arora, consultant, internal medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vile Parle
One of the most positive health trends gaining momentum in 2025 and likely to take over the coming year is the rising importance of fitness. People are frequently tracking fitness, prioritising sleep, getting routine check-ups, and seeking medical advice in time.
There has also been wider awareness and use of medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide — used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Patients battling Type 2 diabetes with obesity are able to improve blood sugar control and achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. This is also helping them reduce obesity-related comorbidities such as high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnoea.
However, any medication should be taken only after appropriate medical consultation and must be supported by a balanced diet and regular exercise. When it comes to weight loss, there are no quick fixes or magic pills.
A worrying health trend that is unfortunately gaining a foothold is persistent upper respiratory symptoms such as cold, nasal congestion, throat irritation, and cough. Unlike in the past, these symptoms now take longer than a week to resolve. While the infection itself isn’t harder to treat, antibiotics are not effective because these are viral infections.
Underlying causes such as pollution are constantly affecting the airway lining, worsening symptoms, and slowing recovery.
Wear masks while venturing outdoors, especially during winters or high-pollution days, and stay well hydrated. Try using simple saline nasal sprays or steam inhalation to keep the nasal passages clean and infection-free. One may practice Jal Neti, ensuring strict hygiene with sterile, distilled, or previously boiled-and-cooled water, along with clean equipment.
Another major concern is rising health issues induced by deteriorating mental health, particularly among younger adults. In many patients, anxiety presents as palpitations, breathlessness, chest tightness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, and gastrointestinal discomfort — sometimes escalating to panic attacks.
Such symptoms require both physical and mental evaluation and professional support. Introduce non-negotiables such as routine exercise, eight hours of sleep, a balanced diet, and screen detox into daily life.
Seek support from friends, family, or professionals when needed to protect your mental health and strengthen physical health.
Dr Honey Savla, consultant, internal medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central
Seasonal illnesses are no longer following textbook patterns — worsening air pollution is a major reason. Traditionally, respiratory infections peaked in winter, while viral fevers were mostly seen during the monsoon months. However, in the past year, doctors have noticed that the seasons of illness overlap. Cough, wheezing, allergies, and viral symptoms occur almost year-round. Ongoing exposure to fine particulate pollution harms the protective lining of the airways, making people more vulnerable to infections that would typically be mild or go away on their own.
What is changing is not just how often people get sick but also the severity of symptoms and the length of recovery. Patients with asthma, allergies, diabetes, or heart disease are increasingly experiencing prolonged cough, fatigue, and breathlessness even after common infections. Pollution also triggers flare-ups of sinusitis, bronchitis, and acid-reflux-related cough, which are often confused with repeated infections.
Another growing concern is immune fatigue linked to pollution. Constant exposure to poor air quality keeps the body in a state of low-grade inflammation. This reduces its ability to respond effectively when real infections occur. This explains why many patients feel they are “falling sick again and again”.
In the future, the patterns of seasonal illness will depend less on the weather and more on the air quality trends. Preventive care should include consistent mask use on high-AQI days, improving indoor air hygiene, staying well hydrated, and seeking timely medical advice instead of relying solely on traditional seasonal expectations.
Dr BC Kalmath, director and HOD-department of cardiac sciences, KIMS Hospitals, Thane
The year 2025 taught us that lifestyle diseases are no longer slow illnesses. They are speeding up. In 2026, we will see a clear shift toward preventive and predictive healthcare instead of just reactive treatment.
One of the strongest trends will be the early detection of cardiovascular risks, even in people in their 30s and early 40s. More Indians are showing signs of silent hypertension, borderline cholesterol, and stress-related heart rhythm issues, often without classic symptoms. This will lead to routine cardiac screenings expanding beyond ECGs to include monitoring with wearables, AI-assisted risk scoring, and personalised prevention plans.
Another major trend is the medical acknowledgment of stress as an important cardiac risk factor, not just a lifestyle issue. Long work hours, lack of sleep, and digital fatigue are increasingly linked to spikes in blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and early heart disease.
We should expect more focus on sleep health, stress management, and structured exercise plans as part of heart care.
Nutrition will also become more tailored, moving away from one-size-fits-all diet advice.
Patients will receive guidance based on their metabolic response rather than just calorie counting.
Finally, hybrid care models, which combine hospital expertise with remote follow-ups, will expand. In 2026, the aim won’t just be to treat heart disease, but to delay or prevent its onset, especially in urban India.
Dr Ajithkumar Vivekanandan, associate chief physician, Apollo AyurVAID
While adaptation may take time, the future of healthcare lies in a scientific, integrative approach, leveraging modern diagnostics and allopathic medicine where they excel, and Ayurveda and allied systems where they are strongest. This is not “mixopathy” but a rational convergence of disciplines. Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and technology, integrative healthcare is poised to gain momentum and become an inevitable necessity in the years ahead.
Dr Roopa Mepani, medical director, Holy Family Hospital, Bandra West
Looking ahead to 2026, healthcare will increasingly focus on preventing illness rather than reacting to it.
Regular health check-ups, early screening for conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and timely vaccinations will become routine advice for everyone—not just high-risk groups. The use of AI and assisted technologies in clinics and hospitals will grow, helping doctors detect problems earlier and personalise care.
Mental health will remain a major priority. More people, especially in urban and corporate settings, are expected to speak openly about anxiety, burnout, and depression and seek help sooner rather than later.
Another key shift will be towards care at home and in the community. Teleconsultations, remote monitoring devices, and home healthcare services will expand, making follow-ups easier for the elderly and those living with chronic conditions.
Overall, 2026 will be less about quick fixes and more about long-term, science-backed lifestyle changes, supported by technology and proactive medical care.
Air pollution is no longer just an environmental issue—it is changing how illnesses affect us.
With most Indians living in areas where air quality remains unsafe, many people now start each season with already stressed lungs and hearts.
As a result, so-called “seasonal” illnesses are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and appearing more severe.
Doctors are seeing persistent cough, breathlessness, asthma flare-ups, and allergies—often layered on top of routine viral infections. These trends are being reported not only in major metros but also in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, especially during winter smog and high-pollution periods.
Long-term exposure to polluted air increases the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, making the line between seasonal and year-round illness increasingly blurred.
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