Date:21/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/21/stories/2006092116110700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Change lifestyle to prevent heart attacks: cardiologists

Special Correspondent

In India cardiovascular disease epidemic has set in

Simple acts of daily walking, stopping smoking and using minimal oil in food are not difficult

In an effort to take the information to the public, an awareness walk will be held on the Marina on Saturday

CHENNAI: This year, unlike in the past, the last Sunday of September is going to be taken very seriously. With reports indicating a disturbing burden of coronary risk factors in the population, cardiologists are keen on spreading awareness of changing lifestyle in order to prevent heart attacks.

The increasing prevalence of risk factors — smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol — in the population underlines the fact that Indians, who are genetically more prone too, are at greater risk of heart disease. While the deaths due to heart diseases have been decreasing in the West, they have been steadily on the rise in the Indian sub-continent, G. Sengottuvelu, interventional cardiologist, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, said. In India, in fact, it could be said that a cardiovascular disease epidemic has set in, he added.

"The need to contain this epidemic in India is obvious and urgent. Therefore we have little to celebrate and much to do in the area of CVD prevention. World Heart Day constitutes a magnificent opportunity to reflect and take initiatives in this area," Dr.Sengottuvelu told presspersons here on Wednesday. Simple acts of daily walking, stopping smoking and using minimal oil in food are not difficult.

Moreover, they do not involve additional expenditure and little effort to implement. He added that in the West, awareness about lifestyle alterations had led to cessation of smoking and consequently deaths due to smoking. "Unless the public is aware about how small alterations to existing lifestyle conditions will decrease the risk, it will be impossible to control the non-communicable diseases epidemic."

In an effort to take the information to the public, an awareness walk will be held on the Marina on Saturday. Union Minister of Health, Anbumani Ramadoss, will participate in the walk, which will be preceded by a meeting and followed by serving of `health-food' refreshments. "The theme of this year's World Heart Day is `How young is your heart? By asking people this question, we are encouraging them to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle," Dr.Sengottuvelu said.