Making Simple Changes Can Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases: Dr Naresh Trehan

With today’s busy and fast-paced lifestyle which leads adults to not follow some key healthy habits such as a balanced diet, regular exercising, and avoiding smoking which is directly impacting their heart. This has led to an increase in the number of cases of cardiovascular diseases around the world. 

In India, half of all reported heart attacks are caused due to cardiovascular diseases that occur in people under 50 years of age; of these 25 per cent occur in those younger than 40 years. Not only is our population of cardiovascular patients rising rapidly, but the disease is also afflicting younger people in their peak years of life. 

According to the ICMR State-Level Disease Burden Report, the prevalence of heart disease in India has increased by over 50 per cent from 1990 to 2016 among all age groups with the disease contributing to about 17 per cent of total deaths.  

Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman & Managing Director, Medanta, The Medicity stresses that even though people are aware of the risk factors, most of them get ignored until their condition worsens. 

“Cardiovascular diseases to a great extent can be reversed with lifestyle changes. Making simple changes in what you eat, how often you exercise, how much you weigh and how you best manage stress can help put brakes on the disease”, Dr Trehan adds.   

On how to keep their fit, Dr Trehan advises people not to give in to the temptation to consume oily, sugary and junk food items, especially after the age of 40.  

Further, people with a family history of cardiovascular diseases should pay additional attention to what they are consuming and should indulge in healthy practices. “It’s important to know your genes (family history), exercise at least 45 minutes a day, work towards de-stressing and eat in moderation”, Dr Trehan advises.  

Also, be it chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, it is one of the potential underlying factors for major heart diseases. Dr Trehan suggests that Tobacco in any form is harmful to the heart and hence one should give up on it if he/she wants to keep the heart in good shape.  

Aman Rawat

BW Reporters Aman is a Graduate in Bio-Chemistry and a Post Graduate in Journalism from IIMC. Presently he is sharpening his knowledge in the domain of Mind Body and the Soul.