What’s your excuse for ignoring your heart’s health? A hectic schedule, a fondness for junk food, or a lack of will to exercise? According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for one-fifth of all deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease. Every year, about 3 million people die from strokes and heart attacks around the world. In Indian men, 50% of all heart attacks occur before they reach the age of 50, and 25% of all heart attacks occur before they reach the age of 40. Indian women also suffer from high mortality rates due to cardiac disease. Indians have a higher genetic risk of heart disease and get the condition a decade earlier than their western counterparts. It is critical to raise public awareness about heart disease and to take preventative actions in order to lower the country’s cardiovascular disease burden.
What is Heart disease?
The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions affecting the cardiovascular system and each affect the heart and blood vessels in different ways. The most common ones include angina, heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrest, congenital heart disease to name a few. Watch out for these heart attack symptoms:
- Tightness or a squeezing sensation in your chest.
- Nausea, indigestion or heartburn.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold sweat.
- Pain in the left arm or the jaws.
- Fatigue.
- Light-headedness or sudden dizziness.
This is a medical emergency and needs urgent medical care.
Heart Disease: Know your risk
Knowing your heart disease risk and consulting a cardiologist for precautionary measures is the first step towards a healthy heart. Do not wait for any symptoms to show up, regular cardiac health checkup is a must for all. Speak to your doctor at the earliest if you have any of the below risks:
- Have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
- Are a smoker.
- Are overweight.
- Live a sedentary lifestyle.
- Eat a poor diet.
- Have a family history of heart disease.
Heart Disease: Preventive measures
Certain heart disease risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be modified. However correct lifestyle choices can help reduce your risk of heart disease. The preventive measures include:
- Get Moving
Studies suggest that watching TV for two hours a day increase your risk of developing heart disease by 15 percent. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends being active for at least 30 minutes daily. Regular exercise also helps you lose weight faster, which is crucial because obesity raises your risk of heart disease. - Quit Smoking
Cigarette smoking has been linked to cancer, lung disease, stroke, and heart disease, among other potentially fatal health issues. Smoking increases your chance of heart disease by two to four times, even if you have no other risk factors. - Manage Stress
Stress causes strain on the heart, increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Learn to cope better with stress. Exercising, listening to music, pursuing a hobby, reading and meditating are all good strategies to handle stress. - Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical for preventing damage or fatigue to your heart. When you maintain a healthy weight, your blood circulates more efficiently and necessary fluid levels are maintained, reducing cardiac strain. - Eat Better
Cut out sugary, salty and fatty foods from your diet. Eat a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains daily to keep your heart healthy. Ensure that you eat home cooked meals and avoid ordering in or using processed or packaged ingredients. - Manage Blood Pressure
Know your numbers. A blood pressure of 120/80 is considered normal, if your blood pressure levels exceed 130, you should see a doctor. - Reduce Blood Sugar
High blood sugar damages the lining of your blood vessels, making them more vulnerable to plaque formation. Control your diabetes levels by making healthy lifestyle changes or take medications if prescribed. - Manage High Cholesterol
The “bad” cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), whereas the “good” cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Plaque can build up on the walls of arteries if there is too much bad cholesterol and not enough good cholesterol. This can lead to heart disease. Control your cholesterol levels with the help of your doctor.
Heart care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Wondering if your heart is healthy and strong? Meet our highly efficient team for preventive cardiac care, prompt diagnosis and world-class treatment options. One of the pioneering medical institutes in western India Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is equipped with a top notch Centre for Cardiac Sciences. With highly trained cardiologists and cardiac surgeons our specialists have the know-how to identify heart ailments early and take action as required. Our experts have performed more than 3700+ Coronary Angioplasties and 8500+ Cardiac Surgeries in the past. Please find below the link for our website details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_cardiacsciences.html