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Punjabis eating their hearts out, literally
?HURRY, WORRY and curry lead to a hurried exit from the world. And, fortunately or unfortunately, Punjabis are blessed with all three.? These remarks of Dr Anil Grover, a senior cardiologist at PGI here, should set the alarm bells ringing for Punjabis, who are in a tearing hurry, worry a lot and are just too fond of curry. ?While eating habits and the sedentary lifestyle of Punjabis do the damage, smoking does the same inHaryana,? says the doctor.
“HURRY, WORRY and curry lead to a hurried exit from the world. And, fortunately or unfortunately, Punjabis are blessed with all three.”
These remarks of Dr Anil Grover, a senior cardiologist at PGI here, should set the alarm bells ringing for Punjabis, who are in a tearing hurry, worry a lot and are just too fond of curry. “While eating habits and the sedentary lifestyle of Punjabis do the damage, smoking does the same inHaryana,” says the doctor.
“People coming to hospitals with coronary ailment at a very young age is nothing new or exceptional in this region,” according to Gurpreet Singh Wander, chief cardiologist at Hero DMCH, Ludhiana. “The increasing number of junk-food joints is no healthy sign for the heart. With urbanisation, physical activity has been reduced, stress increased,” he says.
Ritender, a 31-year-old professional, was rushed to the PGI Emergency in December after he complained of acute chest pain. His electrocardiogram (ECG) indicated a massive heart attack. He required angioplasties and two months of hospitalisation to get him back to work.
“One coronary artery patient below the age of 40 arriving at the Emergency with heart attack every month is the norm at the PGI. At least four such patients below the age of 50 report every month,” Dr Grover says.
But Fortis cardiac surgeon Dr T.S. Mahant takes a broader look, “Why blame Punjabis alone. Indians as such are more prone to coronary artery disease (CAD) because of genetic reasons. The ‘thrifty gene’ makes Indians more vulnerable.” This is about malnourished mothers giving birth to underweight babies, who have a genetic tendency to be overweight, hypertensive and are likely to suffer from CAD in later life.
Dr Grover warns that by 2015, CAD could account for 34 per cent of the deaths among males and 32 per cent among females in the country. “Because of the still prevalent communicable diseases like malaria and TB, non-communicable diseases are not on our policy makers’ priority. This is a hindrance in checking CAD.”
Statistically speaking
Up to 30 per cent Indians suffer from coronary ailments. The percentage is much higher in the North
The risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indians is three or four times higher than white Americans, six times higher than the Chinese, and 20 times greater than the Japanese, according to various studies
How to check heart disease
DR MAHANT OF FORTIS“Increased physical activity, proper dietary habits, no smoking and avoiding alcohol possible solutions."
DR GROVER OF PGI"Yogic way of life and stress management techniques are required. Vegetarian diet, low in cholesterol and saturated fats, rich in anti-oxidants (vegetables, fruits) and, above all, exercise - 20 minutes of any aerobic exercise on most of the days of the week could save you a visit to the cardiologist."
