World Heart Day, Sep 29:
Top cardiologists share their secrets for a healthy heart
Heart diseases are no longer limited to the elderly sect. The sedentary lifestyle, high levels of stress, and more junk in the diet have helped heart ailments cut across all age groups. The well-being of our heart, however, still lies in our very own hands, and it's time we come out of our respective comfort zones and take our heart health more seriously.
According to the World Heart Federation, heart disease and strokes are the world's leading cause of death, killing 17.1 million people every year. In India, cardiovascular diseases strike at the very heart of the economy as these affect people in their most productive years. "Every 10th adult has coronary artery disease in urban India and every fifth adult has high blood pressure, causing a huge loss to our national income," says Dr Vinay Kumar Bahl, Professor and Head, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi.
IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS
While lack of exercise and eating a lot of junk food increase the risk factors, family history also plays a crucial role. "Diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, high cholesterol and hypertension - all can run in families, hiking your risk of a heart attack. So, even if you do not have any visible symptoms, you need to be cautious," suggests Dr Bahl.
While lack of exercise and eating a lot of junk food increase the risk factors, family history also plays a crucial role. "Diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, high cholesterol and hypertension - all can run in families, hiking your risk of a heart attack. So, even if you do not have any visible symptoms, you need to be cautious," suggests Dr Bahl.
Yearly checkups can help know the risks early so that you can address them early. There is also a huge fear about the discovery of heart disease among people, especially men. "People often ignore the early signs of angina. They need to understand that if we (doctors) can discover the blockages in arteries before they get a heart attack, there is a 99 per cent chance to save their life and keep them healthy," believes Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta - The Medicity, Gurgaon.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT
"Over the last two decades, we have witnessed that the heart attack is occurring at an early age. We are now seeing patients in their 20s and 30s with cardiac malfunction and heart attack," reveals Dr Bahl, adding that creating a heart healthy environment at school, home and work has become more crucial than ever. Childhood obesity is a rising problem, too.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT
"Over the last two decades, we have witnessed that the heart attack is occurring at an early age. We are now seeing patients in their 20s and 30s with cardiac malfunction and heart attack," reveals Dr Bahl, adding that creating a heart healthy environment at school, home and work has become more crucial than ever. Childhood obesity is a rising problem, too.
"Atherosclerosis, which is deposition of fats, starts at childhood; it is not a phenomenon that occurs at the age of 40 or 50. So you do not need to act when you turn 30, you need to inculcate these healthy habits from childhood," says Dr Bahl. High-risk factors like excess weight, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking can easily be avoided to keep your heart healthy and strong. Every year, the World Heart Day is celebrated to remind us that we ought to be good to our heart. Five leading heart experts show us the way.
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