Over 90% heart attacks can be prevented following disciplined lifestyle: Expert

The World Heart Day is observed on September 29 every year to raise awareness about heart health and accelerate actions to prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular diseases. As per an estimation, the WHO South-East Asia Region is home to a quarter of the world’s population and the region is experiencing a very high burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for 3.9 million annual deaths, making up 30 per cent of all deaths.

In recent years, the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles has reached alarming numbers, becoming a global health concern while smoking remains a common risk factor, leading to cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

Professor (Dr) Tarun kumar, Dept. of cardiology, RML Hospital, said that over 90 per cent cause for cardiac arrest is heart attack only. The remaining causes are cardiomyopathies, arrhythmia and others. Explaining the difference, Prof Kumar said that cardiac arrest is an electrical issue that occurs when rapid abnormal impulses override heart’s natural rhythm, while heart attack occurs when a clogged artery disrupts blood flow.  

Dr Kumar said that the poor lifestyle – Smoking, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, obesity – along with uncontrolled blood sugar, blood pressure and stress predisposes a person to risk of heart attack. All these risk factors possibly along with post covid prolonged inflammation leads to rising propensity of heart attack especially in younger population. On preventive measures, he said that more than 90 per cent of heart attacks can be prevented by imbibing a healthy lifestyle. 

“For better control of risk factors – Know these numbers on fingertips- Blood sugar level, BP reading, Cholesterol level, Weight/ BMI, and Number of steps per day and check on a regular basis. Unlock your heart with these numbers for a healthy Heart and Healthy life”, he said.