Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092758540200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

70 p.c. heart-related deaths preventable

20 per cent of heart patients today are below the age of 40
20 p.c. of city people are diabetics, 15 p.c. have high BP

HYDERABAD: A few years ago, the average age of a person suffering from heart illness was 50 years. Now, that age has come down to 40 years.

In Hyderabad, among the general population, doctors more or less agree that the prevalence rate of heart ailments is 9 per cent out of which 20 per cent are below the age of 40. As the World Heart Day approaches on Sunday with the theme ‘Know Your Risks’, which means understanding the risks of getting a heart ailment, another factor that needs to be seriously considered is that 70 per cent of heart-related deaths are preventable. “Hyderabad estimates suggest that 90 per cent of young patients are smokers. They can’t control their dietary habits. Middle and low income group youngsters are under severe stress to excel. They seldom take physical exercise seriously. Needless to say, their numbers are on the rise,” says C. Raghu, Head of Interventional Cardiology and Director of Prime Hospitals.

The doctor, who spoke to media persons on Friday, said that while cardiac ailments continued to be the leading cause of death among the aged, the fact remained that its foundations were laid in youth. Lifestyle, diet and in few cases, genetic factors continued to play a major role in causing heart ailments.

Risk factors

Among general population in Hyderabad, rough estimates indicate that 20 per cent are diabetics and 15 per cent have blood pressure. About “10 to 12 per cent have high cholesterol. All these people carry the risk of suffering from heart ailment,” Dr. Raghu said.

“A few years ago, we used to say just walk for 25 minutes. However, given the erratic lifestyle of everyone, these days we recommend 45 to 60 minutes of exercise for five days a week. As a general rule, no edible oil is safe. But since none can live without it, roughly, a family of four, should only consume two litres in a month,” the doctor said. Eating right, quitting drinking and smoking, getting rid of obesity, managing stress by yoga are the only ways prevent heart ailments.