World Heart Day: Rising coronary artery disease among population below 40 years a concern, say PGI doctors

Dr Sharma shared the department has achieved the least mortality and best survival in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

“With the motto of affordable care to all, all patients get the best treatment irrespective of their socioeconomic status in our department, which has the most updated infrastructure in this region. We are providing the latest technologies like intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, orbital atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy, advanced paediatric interventions, and advanced electrophysiological procedures at affordable cost,” Dr Sharma added.

Dr Sharma, however, said, “There is a rise in the number of patients presenting with structural heart diseases and now therapies like Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), and Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) are being given to patients with high surgical risks. These interventions are associated with both good short and long-term outcomes. We have performed over 100 TAVI with the country’s lowest mortality and best outcome.”
He said increasing CAD among the population below 40 years may be related to poor dietary habits, increased work stress and a sedentary lifestyle.

“Implementing 5 days a week of elective work with only emergency services on Saturday and Sunday among youths can improve physical and mental well-being and reduce hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia,” the doctor said.

“As we mark World Heart Day this year, the theme, ‘Use Heart for Action’ resonates more than ever. With heart disease remaining the leading cause of death globally, the initiative calls for an effort to re-embrace healthier lifestyles,” said Prof Dr Rajesh Vijayvargiya, Department of Cardiology, PGI.

“Cardiac risk,” he added, “can be substantially decreased by adopting healthy lifestyles, including regular physical activity, taking less salt in the diet, regularising sleep and minimising psychological stress.”

Prevention and increase intake of vegetables more than 200gm), fruits more than 200gm, cereals and fibres more than 20gm in daily diet. Salt intake should be lower than 5g daily.

Avoid high saturated fats like red meat, dairy products, coconut and palm oils, and high trans-fat contents like deep-fried fast foods, bakery products, packaged snack foods, and margarine.

All healthy adults should exercise for 30-45 minutes daily, at least five days a week, for moderate to vigorous exercise. Counting more than 8,000 steps daily also helps reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Treat abnormal lipids through exercise, weight reduction and drugs.

Stop smoking and chewing tobacco.

Have blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg. Those with diabetes and renal failure should have strict control over their blood pressure. Low salt intake, appropriate body weight maintenance and medications control high blood pressure.

Have a fasting blood sugar of less than 110 mg. Blood sugar can be controlled with diet modification, appropriate body weight maintenance and drugs.

Be physically active. Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 25 kg/m2. The ideal weight can be calculated by height in cm – 100. When indicated, body weight reduction can be achieved by an appropriate balance of physical activity, caloric intake, and formal behavioural programmes. One should have at least seven hours of uninterrupted nighttime sleep.

Compliance with drugs prescribed by the physician for heart disease. Medications like aspirin and statin should not be taken without physician advice.