Nationwide Prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease is Around 12% in Urban and 4% in Rural Population: Prof Rajesh Vijayvergiya

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 29^th September:- The health landscape in the country is gradually changing with the majority of deaths being caused by lifestyle diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), are posing a huge challenge. They have become a growing epidemic in the country and have become a prominent cause of illness and death.  A combination of sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and genetic susceptibility are contributing to this rising trend. The nationwide prevalence of coronary heart disease is around 12% in urban population and 4% in rural population. Increasing urban prevalence is because of industrialization, changing dietary habits and unhealthy life style. High intake of fat, calories, alcohol and smoking habits are the main risk factors for coronary heart disease. To combat the rising burden, preventive measures are required on urgent basis. 

Prof Rajesh Vijayvergiya from Department of Cardiology, PGI, Chandigarh commented that control of certain risk factors like smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stress, and adoption of healthy life style can help in prevention of CVD. One should have an urgent consultation with a doctor for the presence of any one of the warning symptoms of heart attack. Two type of patients one is diabetic and second is women, who can have non-classical symptoms; hence they should be thoroughly evaluated when presented with chest pain. Certain diseases like diabetes, aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease of lower limbs and brain should be aggressively managed as they are equivalent to heart disease.  

Professor Dr Vijayvergiya commented that control of various risk factors not only improves the incidence of heart disease, but it also improves rate of stroke, renal failure, peripheral arterial disease, quality and quantity of life. He commented that the screening for various risk factors should start as early as 20 years of age and should be regularly checked every 5-yealy. After the age of 40 yrs, one should regularly and periodically undergo various stress tests like treadmill test (TMT), stress thallium or stress echocardiography to rule out asymptomatic coronary artery disease.