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World Heart Day
Lifestyle disorder and Street food eating habits emergent heart diseases among youth
29th September 2023, Kolkata:
Heart diseases are becoming an increasing health concern these days due to various reasons like unhealthy eating habits, work-related stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of exercise. World Heart Day, celebrated annually on September 29th, is a global endeavor that requests that people take some time out of their busy schedules and take care of their hearts.
Recently, we have witnessed a rise in cases of heart attack, cardiac arrest, and other cardiovascular diseases. According to the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), which stated that heart attacks account for 28.1% of deaths in India, The deaths mostly happen in the age group of 40–69, but this time the deaths in the age group of 18–30 have dramatically increased.
Cardiovascular disease is a serious health issue characterized by various factors, including an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, family history, age, gender, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, other medical conditions, and environmental factors. These factors can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, and lifestyle changes and medical interventions can help mitigate these risks. Consultation with a healthcare professional is recommended for those concerned about their heart health.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, especially in the younger generation. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is prevalent in Indians, with over 50% of mortality occurring in individuals under 50. Risk is higher in Asian Indians, with smoking, blood lipids, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, stress, poor food consumption, and a lack of physical activity being common risk factors.
According to Dr. Shuvro Banerjee, Cardiologist of Apollo Multi-Speciality Hospital, Kolkata, “My advice to the young generation after days would be to take a balanced diet. Avoid sweets, salt, processed foods, fats, etc. Do regular exercise every day. If you have bad habits, such as smoking, please give them up. If you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, then see your doctor about it and get it sorted out so that these risk factors are under control. Get your checkup done at least once a year, and try to develop stress relaxation techniques. Stress is everywhere; you can’t avoid it, but if you can develop good ways to come back from stress, then your heart will stay healthy”.
