NIMS Chairman says heart diseases killing young Indians

Heart related ailments are increasingly becoming a concern for Indians. Around 20% of the total deaths in India are caused by coronary heart diseases. These figures are expected to escalate to a serious 34% by 2020. And much to the dismay, many youngsters are falling prey to such ailments. Dr. Balbir Singh Tomar, Chancellor, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan says that heart diseases are always a matter of concern as they kill a huge number of people all across the world.

He says, “ During my fellowship days in Kings College Hospital, Harvard Medical School and then in India, I have observed that patients think that obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol are the only causes of heart problems. Sadly, this isn’t true. There are factors like age, family history and even gender which elevate the risk of a heart disease. The only way to keep your heart fit is by keeping yourself healthy and undergoing regular tests to observe the heart condition. It is always better to be proactive.”

The way to avoid heart problems is by altering the lifestyle. Including a 30 minute walk everyday helps the heart valves to function better. This is extremely necessary owing to the current sedentary lifestyle. Most of the people spend good 8-9 hours in office sitting through the day. This increases the risk of heart problems by 34%. NIMS Dr. Balbir Singh Tomar elaborates, “It is always recommended to take a 5 minute break after every 30-40 minutes. Walk a little in this break so as to improve the overall functioning of the body.”

NIMS – Other than daily basic workout, diet plays an important role. Less intake of salt and fats substantially reduce the risk of a heart disease. Another important factor for a healthy heart is reducing mental stress and tension.