New Delhi : Indians have a genetic tendency to develop heart ailments, with increased occurrences at a young age; yet many are unaware of the risk and repercussions of the condition. Health experts suggest dance, walking, cycling and swimming as measures to keep cardiovascular conditions at bay.
“More active life style is the best form of preventive correction to avoid cardiac ailments. It is highly recommended to do 150 minutes of physical activity each week to help prevent heart disease,” Neeraj Bhalla, senior consultant and director cardiology at the BLK Super Speciality Hospital, told IANS.
Walking, cycling, dancing or swimming – activities that use larger muscles at low resistance – are good aerobic exercises. But it all depends on individual needs and reciprocation of body, he added. He said that the most important thing is to lead a least stressful, but active and healthy life.
“It is true that Indians have a genetic predisposition to developing heart diseases and it occurs in them at a much younger age,” Gunjan Kapoor, director of interventional cardiology at Noida’s Jaypee Hospital, told IANS.
“It has also been seen that Indians who have migrated to different countries like the US, Britain and other countries, as also Africa, continue have higher incidence of heart disease compared to natives of that country,” Kapoor added.
Bhalla said many studies have indicated that people of Indian subcontinent origin are not only more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CAD) but also prone to diabetes – one of CAD’s causes.
According to statistics, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in India – accounting for estimated 2.25 million deaths. And it has been estimated that by 2015 the number will rise to 2.94 million.
Experts agree that despite such alarming figures, Indians still remain unaware about the condition and its effects.
Anil Bansal, chief cardiologist at Ghaziabad’s Columbia Asia Hospital, said there is also a “sense of ignorance in the minds of the people”. He added that education is the “only key to bridge the gap between awareness and knowledge” about cardiovascular diseases.
“We need to make people aware that with some modifications in their lifestyle they can prevent heart diseases. People need to be encouraged to opt for preventive healthcare and avoid visiting a doctor only in the emergency situations,” Bansal told IANS.
(September 29 is World Heart Day)
