Cardiovascular diseases are increasing rapidly in India. High blood pressure, cholesterol and stressful lifestyle pose a major threat to people’s heart health. Experts say that if people continue to ignore their diet and lifestyle, the cases of heart attacks may increase further in the coming years. To avoid this danger, it is important to recognize body signals in time and get regular checkups done.
Why are heart attack cases increasing in India?
Heart disease has become the leading cause of death in India. Between 2014 and 2019, the country has seen nearly 50 percent increase in heart attack cases. Urbanization, changing lifestyle, bad eating habits, stress, smoking and diseases like diabetes are the main reasons for this. Experts believe that this problem is not limited to health only, but is also affecting the country’s economy, family stability and working life.
Why do heart attacks occur?
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked due to a clot or blockage. Due to this, oxygen does not reach the heart muscles, due to which the cells die quickly. If not treated immediately, it can also be fatal. According to T. Suman Kumar, cardiologist, Vijayawada-based Srimatha Heart Clinic, “Most heart attacks, strokes and heart failure do not occur suddenly; their risk factors are already present in our body, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking.”
Four big risks hidden in the body
According to doctors, most people’s first heart attack does not happen suddenly; This is due to some hidden risk factors, such as:
High blood pressure – Prolonged high blood pressure damages the walls of the arteries.
Cholesterol – Increased LDL cholesterol in the blood deposits fat in the arteries, restricting blood flow.
Blood sugar or diabetes – High blood sugar weakens blood cells and significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
Smoking – Tobacco damages both the heart and arteries.
The effect of all these factors occurs gradually, but symptoms become apparent when the risk is already high. Therefore, regular checkups are important.
How to reduce the risk of heart attack?
The good news is that most of these risks can be controlled. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and medical checkups can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack. For this, you will have to make some changes in your diet, like including fruits, green vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Also, get exercise, including at least 30 minutes of walking or yoga daily. Quit smoking whenever you can. Quitting tobacco consumption immediately reduces the risk of heart disease. Most strokes and heart attacks occur because people do not pay attention to their health. With timely diagnosis, doctors can start treatment at an early stage. Especially people above 30 years of age or who have a family history of heart disease should get regular checkups done.
