Hale and hearty!

September 26 was celebrated as World Heart Day. On this occasion several cardiologists urged people to analyse their own health to prevent heart disease. Says cardiologist Dr Shirish Hiremath,“The average age group of the patients coming to my clinic with heart ailments has drastically decreased from 45 years to 40 years. Fifty per cent of them are smokers. In Pune,dynamic work conditions,shifts and lack of exercise are the major causes or risks for heart ailments.” What’s more,even young women come with blood pressure problems. Again,stressful work conditions and house work is a double burden for young women. He further adds that stress is the common thread that runs between heart attack ,diabetes and overweight bodies.

Cardiologist Dr Arvind Inamdar too advises that stress management remains the key to prevent heart disease. Pursuing creative hobbies,laughing and relaxing,socialising with friends without over-eating or drinking,and activities like trekking and sports help keep stress at bay. “And yes,don’t forget to check your cholesterol,blood pressure and sugar levels regularly,” advises Inamdar. Dr Ravindra Kulkarni is a cardiologist who set up the ‘Just for hearts’ group. The collective celebrated its first anniversary on World Heart Day,and this year’s theme was ‘workplace wellness’. “At Just for Hearts,unique concepts like office yoga have been taken up to prevent stress at work,” says Kulkarni.

While stress management seminars and workshops are regularly held by Just for Hearts,there have been advances in the treatment of heart ailments too. According to Hiremath,angioplasty has been the preferred procedure in recent times. However,it is essential that the patient undergoes angioplasty without delay at the onset of the heart attack itself,so as to increase the survival rate by a great extent. Dr A Bhatia,radiologist and head,Apollo Unit,states that a 64 Slice CT scan performed by an experienced radiologist can scour coronary arteries minutely and detect any blockage and calcium deposits. This is a non-invasive procedure that takes just a few minutes (the scan itself takes only eight seconds!). The 64 Slice CT Coronary Anglo is today acknowledged to be the most modern and reliable tool for a heart check,and can actually help in stopping a heart attack before it occurs. The Heart CT is cost effective and is performed on out-patient’s basis.“CT Angio is very effective for those patients who have had cardiac surgery in the past,” adds Bhatia.