Thursday, 29 September 2016

World Heart Day: Scenario of Heart Diseases in India


World Heart Day is celebrated every year on 29th September with the intent of raising awareness about cardiovascular disease. Every year has a different theme which tackles different aspects of heart disease. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Cardiac diseases have nearly doubled in India, an alarming fact, considering that it has almost halved in Europe and the USA. Latest data collected from WHO, suggest that by 2010 there would be close to 100 million cardiac patients in India. It is 30 millions now. As per the WHO findings, men, women and children are at risk.

Of the 30 million heart patients in India, 14 million reside in urban areas and 16 million in rural areas. If the current trend continues, by the year 2020, the burden of cardiovascular diseases in India will surpass that of any other country in the world.

The statistical data given by WHO warns that, women will continue to experience disproportionately high mortality from cardiac diseases. By 2040, women in India will represent a higher proportion of cardio vascular disorder deaths than men. Regarding incidence 1 in 3 individuals age 65 or older has suffered from some form of heart disease or stroke. Studies have found that average annual rates of first major cardiac disease event rose from 7 per 1,000 men at ages 35 to 44 to 68 per 1,000 of ages 85 to 94. The comparable rates occur 10 years later for women but the gap between men and women narrows with advancing age. After age 75, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is greater in women than men.

The common accelerators for cardiac diseases are stress, strain, restlessness, work activities and the urbanisation. Nowadays, due to the urbanised cultures people are facing more stress and strain at home as well office. The food habits have changed and the utilisation of vegetables and fruits has been decreased. People are opting fast foods, which may contain some material that harms their heart. The lifestyle of the people is making them sensitive to cardiac diseases leading them towards stress and restlessness. Because of the modern lifestyle, the younger people are also getting heart diseases at a significant rate. Despite age and gender, cardiac diseases are evolving as a major threat for human life.


Heart disease is now the world's leading causes of death, claiming 17.3 million lives each year and India has seen a rapid transition in its heart disease burden over the past couple of decades. However, it's been projected that the load of communicable and non-communicable diseases might get reversed by 2020.

No comments:

Post a Comment