The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Diet control, exercise key to avoiding heart ailments, says V. K. Subburaj

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Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Diet control, exercise key to avoiding heart ailments, says V. K. Subburaj

Special Correspondent

Data shows 30 per cent of deaths are due to heart attack: Indian Bank CMD

— Photo: M. Vedhan

IMPORTANT OFFERING: V.K. Subburaj, Principal Secretary, Health (right), releasing the book ‘Idhayam Oru Koil’ in Chennai on Saturday. Author of the book G. Bakthavathsalam, chairman, K.G. Hospital, Coimbatore (left), and M.S. Sundara Rajan, CMD, Indian Bank, are in the picture.

CHENNAI: Heart ailments are completely preventable, provided people follow a couple of principles, said V.K. Subburaj, Principal Secretary, Health, here on Saturday.

Releasing a book titled ‘Idhayam Oru Koil,’ authored by G. Bakthavathsalam, Chairman, KG Hospital, Coimbatore, Mr. Subburaj said diet control, physical exercise and stress-free life were the three main principles one should follow. This would help in avoiding heart-related problems.

In the beginning of the 20th century, only 10 per cent of the population in India had heart ailments. By the year 2000, the percentage had increased to 35, he said. Various factors contributed to this increase; one of the important reasons was the use of edible oil in food.

Students underwent severe stress during the examination season and office-goers faced the same problem because of their lifestyle.

Receiving the first copy, M.S. Sundara Rajan, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Bank, said there was a lack of awareness among many about the human heart. Data showed that 30 per cent of deaths were due to heart attacks. As per a study, bank employees ranked third in the list of people undergoing severe stress. In 2010, nearly 60 per cent of people in the country would suffer from heart diseases.

Dr. Bakthavathsalam said many thought that heart disease would not affect them. This was not correct. Similarly, many people, without consulting a physician, diagnosed themselves and bought medicines from the chemist, which was not right.

He demonstrated the basic treatment to be provided to a person suffering from a heart attack. Educating the public was most important and regular check-up of the heart was very essential.

Felicitating Dr. Bakthavathsalam, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said he was a surgeon, teacher and philanthropist. Even in the U.S., millions of people had no access to basic medical facilities, he pointed out.

Talking about the book, Mr. Ram said it was an important offering, which told wonderful stories about the heart. “Do not undervalue it and do not treat it with indifference.” It was a valuable offering from an outstanding person. Distributing the book would be a great challenge.

R. Krishnamoorthy, Editor, Dinamalar, said next to Chennai, Coimbatore was becoming a major medical care centre in the State. However, despite various advances in the field of medicine, basic medical facilities were yet to reach people in rural areas. He also requested people to take up the campaign against smoking, particularly in the rural areas.

V.P. Narayanan, former Dean, Madras Medical College; Gopal, Editor, Nakheeran Tamil weekly, and K. Bhagyaraj, actor and film director, were among those who spoke.

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