Heart diseases on the rise, says expert

Una, August 31

Heart surgeon, Dr HK Bali, today said that 30 million Indians were suffering from coronary heart diseases and that India would soon have the largest number of heart patients in the world.

Dr Bali said heart diseases were getting common among young Indians and in the next 10 years, heart ailments would emerge as the biggest killer in the country. As things stand today, 27 per cent deaths of the deaths in our country are attributed to heart diseases. He said heart diseases were also getting common in hill states like Himachal Pradesh despite the fact the people do more physical work, including walking, compared to the residents of the plains.

Dr Bali said smoking had emerged as one of the main reasons for heart diseases, while high levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, besides high intake of alcohol and sedentary lifestyle, were other reasons for heart problems. He said people should eat balanced and healthy diet, including vegetables, fruits and high-fibre foods, practise yoga, exercise regularly and take regular health check-ups.

The doctor said that people with such symptoms or complaints should visit a cardiologist and seek immediate assistance. Cardiac specialist Dr Deeptimaan Kaul also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Bali is the chairman, Cardiac Sciences and Dean Academics and Research, Livasa Hospital, Mohali.

Symptoms to look for

Some symptoms which should be considered as signs of heart disease include discomfort or tightness in the chest, nausea, indigestion or heartburn, pain that radiates from chest to arm, dizziness or sudden drop in blood pressure, pain in the chest that radiates to the throat or jaws, sweating for no apparent reason, shortness of breath even while walking, long-lasting cough with pink or white mucus, swelling in the legs, feet and ankles besides irregular heart beat