Create a heart-healthy environment
VISAKHAPATNAM:
How do you create a 'heart healthy environment' in keeping with the
theme of this year's World Heart Day? While a healthy diet and
physically active lifestyle will help create an externally fit body, a
heart-healthy environment must include a healthy mental environment as
well, say medical experts.
In fact, the important risk factors for heart diseases are hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes. Both have been found to be psychosomatic with an emotional component. Moreover, the risk of heart ailments is equally high in urban and rural areas.
Around 17.1 million deaths occur every year globally due to heart ailments and stroke, even though 80% of these can be prevented by creating a heart-healthy environment. India alone houses around 30 million heart patients. Among the heart ailments, more than 50% cases comprise of coronary vascular or coronary artery disease that is a primary cause of mortality. Besides this, congenital defects (by birth) and rheumatic heart diseases are other major types of heart ailments.
Dr CV Rao, one of the senior-most cardiac experts from the city and consultant cardiologist at Care Hospital said, "In today's world, most people are driven by avarice or the ambition to reach the top of the ladder at workplace or to attain something beyond one's capacity. This causes high stress and anxiety, sleep disturbances and aggressive behaviour among people. At the drop of a hat, people get into a heated argument with others or throw tantrums, which cause more harm to their heart or physical well-being. Unless one is at peace with one's inner self and make the internal environment cleaner, only improving the external environment won't be effective in preventing heart diseases. For this, one has to prioritise one's tasks in life, meditate, balance family and work life as well as engage in some creative pursuits or hobbies, which can serve as an outlet for stress."
With the stressful 24/7 work culture setting in, a healthy change in one's internal environment is required along with changes in dietary habits and lifestyle. Commenting on it, Dr K Damodar Rao, consultant cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, said, "'Earn as much as you can in the shortest span of time' is the existing mantra among professionals. Forgetting leisure and family life, people are bringing office work and stress home and thus compromising on adequate sleep and rest. Due to the hectic work schedule, they also end up eating fatty, junk food or instant and tinned food laden with salt and preservatives. Giving up on outdoor sports and physical activities, they are settling for a sedentary lifestyle."
So, for creation of a heart healthy environment, salt and fat in diet has to be cut down, government officials should ensure that fast food centres use less salt and opt for healthy cooking oil like olive oil as well as healthy food choices are available in school, college and office canteens. "Smoking should be completely banned in India. Playground and provision for sports, outdoor games should be available in educational institutions. Offices can also have gyms for keeping the employees physically active. It should be a combined approach from the government, corporates, NGOs and individuals. Moreover, after 40 years of age, one should go for an annual or half-yearly (if diabetic) screening to detect cardiac ailments early as well as to prevent complications related to high BP and diabetes," added Dr Damodar Rao.
Suggesting some easy-to-follow lifestyle and dietary tips for a healthy heart, Dr K Sagarbabu, cardio-thoracic surgeon at King George Hospital, said, "Whenever one needs to take a quick bite at office, eat some fresh fruits, which is available anywhere and easy are to carry. Stop regular consumption of pickles that has high salt content for preservation. Also, a 30-minute brisk walk daily can do wonders. After a heavy breakfast, moderate lunch and light dinner, stop consuming food late at night because the entire amount is converted into fat. Those given to inadequate rest and disturbed sleep are also more prone to heart attacks. Stress enhances the risk factor for cardio vascular diseases. So avoid staying awake late and getting stressed out."
In fact, the important risk factors for heart diseases are hypertension or high blood pressure and diabetes. Both have been found to be psychosomatic with an emotional component. Moreover, the risk of heart ailments is equally high in urban and rural areas.
Around 17.1 million deaths occur every year globally due to heart ailments and stroke, even though 80% of these can be prevented by creating a heart-healthy environment. India alone houses around 30 million heart patients. Among the heart ailments, more than 50% cases comprise of coronary vascular or coronary artery disease that is a primary cause of mortality. Besides this, congenital defects (by birth) and rheumatic heart diseases are other major types of heart ailments.
Dr CV Rao, one of the senior-most cardiac experts from the city and consultant cardiologist at Care Hospital said, "In today's world, most people are driven by avarice or the ambition to reach the top of the ladder at workplace or to attain something beyond one's capacity. This causes high stress and anxiety, sleep disturbances and aggressive behaviour among people. At the drop of a hat, people get into a heated argument with others or throw tantrums, which cause more harm to their heart or physical well-being. Unless one is at peace with one's inner self and make the internal environment cleaner, only improving the external environment won't be effective in preventing heart diseases. For this, one has to prioritise one's tasks in life, meditate, balance family and work life as well as engage in some creative pursuits or hobbies, which can serve as an outlet for stress."
With the stressful 24/7 work culture setting in, a healthy change in one's internal environment is required along with changes in dietary habits and lifestyle. Commenting on it, Dr K Damodar Rao, consultant cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, said, "'Earn as much as you can in the shortest span of time' is the existing mantra among professionals. Forgetting leisure and family life, people are bringing office work and stress home and thus compromising on adequate sleep and rest. Due to the hectic work schedule, they also end up eating fatty, junk food or instant and tinned food laden with salt and preservatives. Giving up on outdoor sports and physical activities, they are settling for a sedentary lifestyle."
So, for creation of a heart healthy environment, salt and fat in diet has to be cut down, government officials should ensure that fast food centres use less salt and opt for healthy cooking oil like olive oil as well as healthy food choices are available in school, college and office canteens. "Smoking should be completely banned in India. Playground and provision for sports, outdoor games should be available in educational institutions. Offices can also have gyms for keeping the employees physically active. It should be a combined approach from the government, corporates, NGOs and individuals. Moreover, after 40 years of age, one should go for an annual or half-yearly (if diabetic) screening to detect cardiac ailments early as well as to prevent complications related to high BP and diabetes," added Dr Damodar Rao.
Suggesting some easy-to-follow lifestyle and dietary tips for a healthy heart, Dr K Sagarbabu, cardio-thoracic surgeon at King George Hospital, said, "Whenever one needs to take a quick bite at office, eat some fresh fruits, which is available anywhere and easy are to carry. Stop regular consumption of pickles that has high salt content for preservation. Also, a 30-minute brisk walk daily can do wonders. After a heavy breakfast, moderate lunch and light dinner, stop consuming food late at night because the entire amount is converted into fat. Those given to inadequate rest and disturbed sleep are also more prone to heart attacks. Stress enhances the risk factor for cardio vascular diseases. So avoid staying awake late and getting stressed out."
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