At a time when reports of India becoming a diabetes and heart attack capital of the world, cardiologists who took part in a two-day conference in the city recently spelt out dos and don’ts for a healthy heart.
M.R. Girinath, cardiothoracic chief of Apollo Hospital in Chennai, says everyone should go for a health check-up once a year and get their cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes evaluated. “If anything is wrong, we can attend to it in the early stage itself. Annual medical check-up is as important as taking health insurance,” he cautions.
N. Bala Nayagam, Head, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Government Rajaji Hospital, says: “If you cross 40, go for a routine test because many young patients undergo heart surgery these days. In the GRH, we perform about 10 cardiac surgeries a week,” he says.
Regular walking, either in the morning or evening, is important for a healthy heart. One should walk for a minimum of three km a day, he adds.
Also important is a controlled diet to prevent or control BP, diabetes and cholesterol.
V. Sridhar, chief cardiothoracic surgeon, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai, says heart attacks are not just a city syndrome anymore. “Madurai has terrible types of heart diseases. If you cross 40, be on the alert,” he says.
Dos and don’tsAccording to the doctors, the do’s and don’ts for a healthy heart are:
Eat only to fill your stomach and not to your desire; avoid heavy stuff and eat less at night; reduce or avoid salt; avoid fried items; go for daily walk, keep non-vegetarian intake under check; avoid elevators and take stairs; quit smoking; keep snacks and junk food away; be as relaxed as possible; and go for annual health check-up.
“Hypertension and diabetes coupled with smoking are a deadly combination. In India, heart diseases are over two times higher than in the US and western Europe. If you follow the basic prevention tips, there will be a remarkable improvement in the functioning of your heart and general health,” says Dr. Girinath.
The heart specialists discourage having mutton with parotta at night, a common practice in Madurai. “Have a light dinner by 8 p.m. Go to bed with relatively empty stomach. After menopause, women must take good care of their heart,” says Dr. Sridhar.
A sedentary lifestyle makes it all the more important for early identification of diabetes followed by good control methods, advises Dr. Bala Nayagam.
“These days, one can make use of affordable and appropriate techniques for heart treatment. But, prevention is better than cure,” Dr. Sridhar says.
“Those who walk 8,000 steps a day will have a healthy heart. It is a simple thing and a bare minimum we can do easily. So, walk as much as possible. Learn to say ‘no’ to food risky for heart,” he adds.
Dr. Girinath cautions against having pappad and pickles.
For children, he has this to say: “Ideally, a child should be thin. But parents think that if a child is fat, he is healthy. Child obesity is dangerous.”
