C.N. Manjunath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardio Vascular Sciences, Bengaluru, on Saturday said the share of cardio-vascular diseases had increased to eight per cent from two per cent in the 1960s.
Cardio-vascular diseases and diabetes are two faces of the same coin, with each contributing to the other, Dr. Manjunath said at the inauguration of International Cardio-Diabetic Conference organised by the Dakshina Kannada chapter of Association of Physicians along with Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital here.
The increase is mainly due to the changes in lifestyle, lesser importance to physical activities, changed food habits and such other related aspects, he said. Because of these, many developments, from attainment of puberty to onset of diseases and death, occurred prematurely, he said.
Earlier children brought parents to doctors, now parents are bringing children for treatment for acquired diseases, Dr. Manjunath regretted.
He said only increased physical activities and healthy diet could reduce the incidences of non-communicable diseases, including cardio-diabetic. Family physicians, cardiologists and postgraduate medical students who would initially get to know about the ailment, have the responsibility of advising people about these aspects, he said.
Inaugurating the conference, Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Member Nalin Kumar Kateel said the medical community should create awareness about cardio-diabetic diseases among general public. At the same time, concerted efforts should be made to provide medical care to the nooks and corners of the district, he said.
Fr. Patrick Rodrigues, Director of the Fr Muller Charitable Institutions, said if one adopts a lifestyle suitable to live with the cardio-diabetic disease, one can live longer and cited an example of a person who was leading healthy life at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 26.
Keep blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol, body weight and ambitions low, advises
Dr. Manjunath
