According to WHO (World Health Organisation), heart-related illnesses are the prime cause of death globally. Each year more than 17.9 million people in the world die because of heart-related issues. In India alone, more than three million people die from heart issues every year. The number is expected to cross four million by the end of 2020 and by 2030, heart problems will be the number one cause of death in India, accounting for more than 35% of all deaths. Some of the significant contributors towards these numbers are the changing lifestyle patterns, increasing stress, unhealthy eating, environmental pollution and physical inactivity.
- Coronary artery: Hardening or narrowing of the coronary artery, which is responsible for supplying blood to the heart.
- Valvular Heart Disease: A condition that impacts the functioning of the four valves of the heart
- Cardiomyopathy: A condition that impacts cardiac muscle due to several reasons.
- Angina: Chest pain that occurs because of reduced blood flow to a part of the heart muscle.
- Congenital Heart Disease: Heart issues present at birth
- Cerebrovascular Disease: Issues concerning the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain tissue
- Rheumatic Heart Disease: A condition that damages the heart muscle and valves.
- Heart attack: A permanent damage to a part of the heart muscle.
- Heart failure: A critical condition where the heart stops pumping blood in the body.
Seven preventative measures for heart-related illnesses
It is possible to reduce the burden of heart-related illnesses by following these effective preventive methods:
1. Indulge in healthy eating: Eating healthy and consuming more fresh fruits, green vegetables, fibre, whole grains, fish, nuts, etc., can help minimise the risk of heart-related issues.
2. Increase physical activeness to reduce risk: A major cause of heart issues is the lack of physical activity. Hence, irrespective of age, at least 30 minutes of any kind of physical activity can help to prevent heart issues.
3. Get preventive check-ups to identify diseases in time:Regular check-ups of the heart can prevent various heart diseases. Preventive heart-health screenings help to keep a check on the health vitals such as blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index (BMI), and more. arteries and leads to a build-up of fat, which ultimately causes narrowing of the artery and restricts the flow of blood in the body. Additionally, alcohol consumption increases the chances of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, stroke, cardiomyopathy, etc.
4. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake: Smoke from tobacco damages the lining of the arteries and leads to a build-up of fat, which ultimately causes narrowing of the artery and restricts the flow of blood in the body. Additionally, alcohol consumption increases the chances of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, stroke, cardiomyopathy, etc.
5. Reduce stress in life: Stress can increase the heart rate of a person and also flare-up the blood pressure, critically affecting the arteries. Yoga, meditation or hobbies can reduce stress.
6. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity causes issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, all of which negatively impacts the heart’s health.
7. Invest in a heart insurance policy: Investing in a heart insurance policy can act as protection against critical medical emergencies. Since heart treatments can be financially draining, it is always wiser to invest in an insurance plan early in life. Health insurance policies like Kotak Health Shield offer fixed benefits covering early or major illnesses related to the heart, cancer, liver, neuro. The plan covers heart-related issues like angioplasty, cardiac arrhythmia, carotid artery surgery, cardiomyopathy, heart valve replacement, heart attack, coronary angioplasty, heart transplant, and more.
These preventive measures can minimise the overtly mounting heart diseases and issues in India. However, it is critical to follow these methods, and also invest in comprehensive health insurance to ensure you are prepared for the most unforeseen events.
