Ludhiana, September 21
In the current scenario, where heart diseases have touched epidemic proportions in India, according to the World Health Organisation, there is something to cheer about. Just simple lifestyle changes and regular exercise can dramatically reduce the chances of suffering from a heart attack.
These observations were made by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, an eminent heart specialist, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune here today. He said Punjabis had a genetic predisposition to heart disease. While it was not possible to do anything about one’s genes just yet, the people in this region could lower the risk through minor lifestyle changes. Diet, yoga, exercise, regular physical check-ups — all of these could help. Diabetes and high blood pressure could be detected and kept under control.
Dr Bedi said at a recently concluded comprehensive cardiac check-up camp in the city, some positive findings had emerged. The camp where treadmill test (stress test) and echo screening was performed on a cross section of the community, it was found that people who exercised regularly or performed yoga had their hearts in good shape along with the cholesterol level and blood pressure under control.
Encouraged with these findings, Dr Bedi concluded that going by these results, it was evident that a simple regimen of exercise, prudent diet, weight control and regular check-ups could indeed keep the hearts of Punjabis in good shape. Stressing on the aim of preventive medicine, he said the hearts of the people in Punjab should not just tick — these should beat strongly.
He said it would be interesting to note that similar results had been reported from many other countries. “Currently, around one in five menopausal women die from heart disease. But according to new research by exercise scientists at Liverpool John Moores University, this shocking phenomenon can be reversed if women take just 30 minutes to exercise five days in a week. Similarly, a study in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that walking briskly for half an hour cut the risk of premature death in men by 44 per cent.”
