Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 4: Experts have called for greater emphasis on prevention and early detection of heart disease, urging people to undergo timely health check-ups, remain physically active and address risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and tobacco use.
Speaking to reporters, renowned heart surgeon Dr Shriram Nene said heart disease remains a major health concern in India and across the world, and people need to take timely action on risk factors including family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and obesity.
“Honestly, heart disease is endemic in India and around the world. We need to shift the discussion from acute care to prevention, early recognition and early treatment. If that can be done, the world you live in will be better,” Dr Nene said.
Cardiac surgeon and Medanta chairman and managing director Dr Naresh Trehan said greater attention should be given to heart health, particularly as younger people are increasingly being affected by heart attacks and cardiac arrests.
“On World Heart Day, we should pay attention to our own health, specifically our heart health. We know that India has a very high incidence of heart attacks, and a large number of people die from them,” Dr Trehan said.
He stressed the importance of knowing one's family history and identifying risk factors at an early stage.
“If there is a family history of heart disease and diabetes, you should get a check-up before the age of 25,” Dr Trehan said, adding that even those without a family history should undergo a comprehensive health check-up before the age of 30.
Advances such as genome sequencing, combined with family history, biochemical parameters and lifestyle assessments, can help determine an individual's risk profile, he said.
Public health expert Prof Monika Arora, vice-president of the Research and Health Promotion Division at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), attributed the rise in cardiovascular diseases to changing lifestyles and dietary patterns.
“The increase in cardiovascular diseases we are seeing in India is a result of our changing lifestyles and the nutrition transition that our country has experienced, where we have moved from traditional diets to Western diets,” she said.
Arora also highlighted the cardiovascular risks associated with tobacco use, including smoking, smokeless tobacco and newer forms of nicotine addiction such as vaping.
Dr Amit Gupta, executive at the Global Metabolic Health Alliance, said controlling metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, cholesterol and fatty liver disease is important for preventing heart disease.
“Today, I would like to focus on metabolic health. It includes factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, fatty liver and body weight, which together determine our metabolic health. If we also have diabetes, the metabolic risk increases,” Dr Gupta said.
He also flagged childhood obesity as a growing concern and advised people to maintain a healthy weight from an early age.
For elderly people, Dr Gupta recommended regular monitoring of blood sugar, blood pressure and weight, adherence to prescribed medicines and seeking appropriate medical advice.
World Heart Day was observed globally on September 29 to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and the importance of prevention and early intervention.