Gujaratis, take this to heart

AHMEDABAD: If you think heart disease is a problem that happens to others, you are seriously mistaken. For, it is the No. 1 killer in India.

One of every 10 men and one of every 20 women are at risk of contracting the disease.“People in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab are more prone to heart diseases, with Gujaratis being at maximum risk because of their high intake of sugar and ghee,” said Naresh Trehan, senior heart surgeon, Apollo Hospital.

Trehan added a Gujarati consumes about 250 grams of ghee every day. Those having diabetes and a family history of heart diseases are at four times more risk of developing such problems.

So what's the remedy? Smokers should immediately give up the deadly habit as it is the primary cause of heart diseases, said Trehan. Daily walks for about 45-60 minutes, pranayam, moderate alcohol consumption and regular check-ups also help, he added.

Keeping in mind that a patient needs immediate medical attention during heart attacks and it may not be possible for s/he to reach the tertiary care centre, Apollo Hospital, Ahmedabad, has launched five chest pain clinics at Gandhinagar, Shahibaug, Ambavadi, Sabarmati and Ashram Road. The hospital plans to open five more such centres in the city by September.

"If a person is above 30 and experiences pain in the chest, jaw or abdomen for over 5-10 minutes, s/he should take an aspirin first and rush to the nearest clinic for medical assistance,” said interventional cardiologist Sameer I Dani.