Did you know that India accounts for 20 percent of the world’s deaths due to heart disease? Indians are particularly prone to heart disease at a young age. Of particular concern is the early age of onset, rapid progression and high mortality associated with cardiovascular disease in India. Apart from being genetically prone to heart disease, Indians have certain habits that are not heart healthy and that make us more susceptible to heart attacks.Also Read – Side Effects of Desi Ghee: Stop consuming ghee immediately if you have these health conditions
Tilak Suvarna Dr, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai says, “A sedentary lifestyle is a common and important risk factor for heart disease. Every second person in India is physically inactive. Exercise has never been our culture. We prefer to drive or drive rather than walk, even if it is a short distance. It is only recently that we are seeing an encouraging increase in the number of people taking regular walks. Also Read – Lung cancer: Know its causes, symptoms, prevention and who is at risk
Here are the heart attack signs and symptoms you should not ignore.
- Chest pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than several minutes or goes away and comes back
- Pain, discomfort, or numbness in the upper body such as arms, back, neck, jaw, and abdomen
- Shortness of breath that may occur with or without chest discomfort
- Break into a cold sweat
- Nausea, loss of appetite and/or vomiting
- Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
- Fast or irregular pulse
- Severe and unexplained weakness or fatigue in the days leading up to a heart attack
Dr. Suvarna points out, “The typical Indian diet is not heart-healthy, consisting mainly of carbohydrates and high in dairy fat and ghee and low in fruits and vegetables. Although more than 50% of our population is vegetarian, the prevalence of heart disease is higher than in the predominantly carnivorous Western population. Reusing oil for cooking is common in our culture and increases trans fatty acids. The typical Indian dietary habit is to have a light breakfast and a heavy dinner, which leads to improper or poor digestion leading to weight gain and increased risk of diabetes mellitus.” Also Read – Health Benefits of Pistachios: Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Add This Nutritious Dry Fruit to Your Diet – Watch Video
If you believe you are experiencing any combination of heart attack symptoms, it is imperative to seek help immediately.
