Keralites at greater risk of heart diseases

KOCHI: A Cardiological Society of India (CSI) study this year reveals that prevalence of cardiac diseases is very high in Kerala compared to the national figures and experts say it is high time preventive measures are taken to arrest the trend. “In Kerala among the adult population of 20-79 years of age, 12 percent are afflicted with heart diseases while in the towns in the rest of India, the rate is 7-9 percent and in villages 3-4 percent,” said Dr Geevar Zachariah, chief co-ordinator of 68th CSI annual conference underway here.

“Out of those in the age group of 20-79 in Kerala, 30 percent have high BP. While 50 percent are aware of it, one-third of them only take medicines. Only one out of six have their BP controlled while five are at risk. Unattended high BP is a major contributor to heart diseases and heart attack.” World Heart Foundation former president Dr Salim Yusuf said cardiac illnesses are one of the primary reasons for deaths in India and prevention is more important in the case of heart diseases, which is simple. “Eat less carbohydrate and engage in both aerobic and strength activity, don’t smoke – for that matter, beedi is more dangerous -, limit liquor - when have it, have it with a meal,” he says.

“Aerobic activity means active exercise, walking and other such things. But strength activity means being agile in every movement and sitting in a correct, active postures like sitting on an exercise ball for watching TV and not using elevators and taking breaks while sitting. This will give strength to the body which will help in sunset years when falls become fatal due to lack of strength of the body.” He said the reasons for diabetes are same as that of heart diseases and the same activities can keep away diabetes. “Animal fat is not as bad as it thought to be and studies are yet to place a final verdict on coconut oil,” he says.