New Delhi, September 29
An increasing number of Indian women are at risk of heart disease with three in 10 heart attacks being reported in them as against seven in men.

Experts attribute the mounting incidence of heart ailments in women to the unabated rise in the incidence of abdominal obesity and diabetes among them.

Speaking to The Tribune today on the occasion of World Heart Day whose stress this year is on women and children, leading cardiologist, Padma Shri and BC Roy awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, advised women to go back to their traditional routine of fasting.

“A lot of Indian traditions suited healthy hearts, for instance brown rice, pure ghee, home-cooked meals, intake of fruits and fibres and the routine of fasting. I would still recommend “ghee” over refined oils and warn against the use of white sugar and artificial sweeteners for a healthy heart,” Dr Aggarwal said.

Experts say women have natural protections against heart ailments and should not get heart ailments before menopause. “There is also gender discrimination in treatment of women as lesser number of women come for angioplasties and bypass surgeries,” Dr Aggarwal said.