Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in association with Press Club of India organized two days cardiac screening camp as a part of its Community Outreach Program. Apollo Hospitals has been a pioneer in the field of cardiac care in India. This is a step towards their attempt to spread awareness about preventive cardiology. Heart disease in India has assumed alarming proportions with the average Indian male being three to four times more likely to have a heart attack than his Western counterparts. Expressing concern over growing cardiac diseases,Dr. Rajeev Kumar Rajput,Sr. Consultant-Cardiology,Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said,Current statistics show an alarming incidence of heart diseases among youngsters in India. The problem of heart disease in the country has reached epidemic proportions. Therefore the initiative by Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals is a step towards educating the people about the various preventive measures,thereby detecting and treating cardiac problems,at an early stage. Patient education was an integral part of the camp; various risk factors were also discussed in the Indian context. Media can play a vital role in informing the general public about the preventive measures for cardiac diseases. The risk factors involved in cardiac diseases are modifiable and can be best controlled by education and awareness. The camp with the Press Club of India was instrumental in achieving this. Scientific evidence indicates 7 risk factors,which if addressed,can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease: Smoking,Cholesterol,Blood Pressure,Diabetes,Lack of Exercise,Eating and Stress. The increasing incidence of heart diseases and the increasing deaths due to heart disease is a major area of concern for the Indian healthcare industry.
