By adopting healthy life style deaths can be prevented: experts
MASROOR AHMAD
SRINAGAR: As part of World Heart Day, several functions were organised in Srinagar to raise awareness on cardiovascular diseases among the young generation. Private medical institutions also launched a series of heart health initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing accessible care to those in need. As part of this effort, many private hospitals are offering cardiology consultations with expert cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at their OPD for symptomatic patients and this service is available from Sept 28 till Oct 15 2024.
“We should focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle for a healthy heart” , the renowned cardiologists AG Ahangar told STATE TIMES, saying that lack of awareness about the cardiovascular health and certain life style habits are some of the leading reasons for mortality worldwide. Every year, around 18.6 million people die due to cardiovascular disease accounting approx. 31 percent of all global mortality, he added.
He said the World Heart Day plays a vital role in creating awareness to educate people across the world to understand the importance of heart and health and bringing other organisations together to actively participate in organising events to create awareness .”
Dr Ahangar said, this year the World Heart Day theme is “Use Heart for Action “, a reminder call to everyone around the world to take care of their hearts. He said that in a world where knowledge about heart health is limited and policies are insufficient or lacking, the aim of the Day is to shatter barriers and empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing ,as the theme depicts when we know more ,we can take better care.
He said, “When we are witnessing increase in cases of heart attacks in young generation, it is still possible that 85 percent heart related deaths are preventable with timely treatment. To minimize heart diseases, a person should follow 5S formula ,that is minimum salt intake, minimum sugar intake, minimum sedentary life style, minimum stress and complete abundance of smoking and recently one more “S’ has been included and that is to adopt entertainment related stress free atmosphere.
India currently faces a significant burden of heart disease, accounting for an estimated 60 percent of global cases despite having less than 20 percent of the world’s population .This alarming trend has made heart disease the leading cause of death among Indians especially in young generation, with 50 percent of heart attacks in men occurring under age of 50 and 25 percent in men under 40 .In this context ,the concept of the “golden hour” becomes crucial ,as it is the critical period immediately following a heart attack when prompt medical intervention can dramatically improve survival rates and minimize long term damage.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) these risk factors put your heart at risk– unhealthy diet, drinking too much alcohol, tobacco, air pollution, not moving enough. According to experts your heart age gives you an idea of how healthy your heart is. If your heart age is older than your actual age, you could be at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.