Doctors Urge Action on Rising Heart Disease Burden

Health experts, in anticipation of World Heart Day on September 29, emphasize that lifestyle choices such as hypertension neglect, high stress, tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and a significant increase in obesity are the primary drivers of the escalating prevalence of heart-related diseases in the country. They are urging immediate action to address these factors. With lifestyle changes and early detection, individuals can reduce their risk and lead healthier lives. The medical community urges everyone to take heart health seriously and prioritize preventive measures, the heath experts said."The most significant contributing factors to heart failure among youth include long-standing ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension," Saurabh Chopra, Consultant, Cardiology at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Gurugram, told IANS.

Early Detection of Hypertension Vital to Prevent Heart Attacks

"There is an urgent need to make youth aware of underlying conditions that might spike and result in heart attack and failure, hence they should go for regular checkups and make lifestyle modifications as preventive steps," he added. In its recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) underscored the grave repercussions of hypertension. (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Hypertension

Go to source) The report shows an estimated 188.3 million adults aged 30-79 years live with hypertension in India. High blood pressure, medically referred to as hypertension, earns its ominous nickname as the "silent assassin" due to its stealthy progression, often evading detection until it unleashes grave health ramifications, such as heart attacks and heart failure. Early detection of heart ailments is vital and crucial for survival, said Dr. Amar Singhal, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.

"The symptoms can include persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen legs, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to delayed treatment and worsened outcomes. A young population, under the impression that they are fit and do some workouts, sometimes miss the underlying symptoms that can be fatal at a later stage," he told IANS. The doctors recommended young people to do annual heart health check-ups, particularly check their cholesterol levels and take preventive steps to avoid clogging their heart arteries.It is “even more important for a subset of people whose parents themselves had heart problems before they had turned old -- typically, father below 55 years and mother below 45 years,” said Ranjan Modi, Senior Consultant - Interventional Cardiology at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad.

It is because they are likely to have very high chances of excessive levels of cholesterol in their bloodstream, the doctor explained.“It is recommended that they should start getting their cholesterol checkup done once a year typically from 20 years of age,” Modi said“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management can significantly reduce the risk of heart failure,” said Dr. Samir Kubba, Director - Cardiology, Dharamshila Narayana Hospital.

Reference:

1. Hypertension - (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension)

Source-IANS