By 2020, it is estimated that about 54 per cent of Indians will suffer from cardio vascular disease, which is gradually turning into an epidemic.
On the sidelines of an interactive meet on worlds heart day, Aftab Khan, senior consultant and cardiologist of Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals claims that by 2020, the number of people suffering from heart diseases is going to increase phenomenally and about 54 per cent Indians will suffer from this epidemic.
According to data provided by World Health Organisation(WHO), about 16.7 million people globally, die of heart diseases per year out of which 40-75 per cent of the people cannot reach hospitals.
India has the highest adult and child mortality rates and soon around 35 per cent heart patients in the world are going to be from India.
Unlike earlier, the incidence of heart attacks had now reduced from the age of 50 years to 35-40 years, indicating the high risk rate that prevailed amongst the young age group now.
Heart diseases mainly occur due to smoking tobacco, high level of cholesterol, obesity, hypertension and high blood pressure (BP).
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In India about 9 lakh people die every year, due to smoking and this figure does not include deaths of people who chew tobacco or the number of passive smokers, claimed Khan.
According to World's Diabetes Foundation, India has the highest case of diabetes which is currently about 41 million.
It is estimated that by 2015, India will be the diabetic capital where one out of every four diabetic will be an Indian, added Khan.
The risk factors which lead to heart attacks, can best be diminished by using good quality oil, which has the least quantity of saturated fat like sunflower oil and soyabean oil, added Khan.
Apollo with the help of its franchisees in rural areas are trying to spread awareness amongst the villagers through tele conferencing and carry out about 12-15 preventive health check ups to combat this epidemic.
About 25 patients are registered everyday in Apollo Gleneagles hospital, Kolkata, suffering from heart diseases and about 15 angioplasty procedures are carried out per day.