Over the past few decades, heart disease has increasingly emerged as one of the leading causes of death in India. This problem has been affecting people both in urban and rural settings. Changes in lifestyle, eating habits, rising stress levels, and an increase in the cases of problems like hypertension and diabetes make people from India vulnerable to cardiovascular problems at a very young age, as compared to people across the world. In this article, we will discuss in detail the risk factors of heart disease and the strategies one can adopt to ensure good heart health and avoid Heart Problems.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease in India
- Lifestyle Risk Factors
Sedentary lifestyles, lack of exercise, and prolonged sitting create risk factors for obesity and heart disease. Compounding this is the habit of consuming processed food high in trans fats, sugar, and salt, creating cardiovascular risk.
- Diabetes and Hypertension
India is the “diabetes capital of the world,” and both diabetes and unchecked blood pressure are strongly aligned with heart disease.
- Tobacco and Alcohol Use
Smoking, chewing tobacco, and abuse of alcohol greatly increase the chances of Coronary artery disease and stroke.
- Cholesterol
An unhealthy diet, along with genetic predispositions toward higher LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels, demonstrates why a majority of Indians have elevated cholesterol.
- Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress, lack of proper sleep, and untreated mental health can also negatively impact the heart health of a person..
How to prevent heart disease?
- Regular Exercise
Try to engage in a moderate-intensity exercise at least 30 minutes a day. These can include walking, cycling, or even yoga. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of becoming overweight or obese, as well as reduce the risk of diabetes and the worst effects of inactivity, like coronary artery disease.
- Regular Doctor Visits
Regular visits with an experienced heart specialist will allow a person to become aware of any health issues, for example, blood pressure, blood sugar measurements, and cholesterol. If any concerning symptoms emerge, patients may be recommended for an initial testing series, i.e., ECG, Echocardiogram, or CT angiography.
- Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Quitting or limiting the use of tobacco and alcohol shows evidence-backed capabilities to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Moderation of alcohol use will lessen the chance of Heart disease and stroke as well.
- Managing Stress
Using practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, and also considering good sleep schedules may be beneficial in allowing the heart to engage and re-engage with the lifestyle of a person.
- Follow recommended medical protocols
A patient with a medical condition, such as diabetes, hypertension, and similar risk factor diseases, should adhere to and take any prescribed medications as regularly prescribed, and also establish regular visits with their medical provider.
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