Heart ailments may become an epdidemic by 2010: Trehan

Patna, Mar 5 (UNI) Renowned Cardiac surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan has warned that heart-related diseases may assume the proportion of an epidemic by 2010.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the open heart surgery unit in a nursing home last evening, Dr Trehan said nearly 12 per cent people in urban India and six per cent in rural areas had the risk of heart attack while it was only four per cent in the US.

He said lifestyle changes and genetic composition were few factors contributing largely to the growth of heart problems. He warned those having high blood perssure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity.

He said brisk walking for 45 minutes a day was also effective in dealing with the heart problem.

Dr Trehan had created a niche for himself by performing over 36,000 open heart surgeries. He is the executive director of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in New Delhi.

He said that his institute was combining Ayurveda, homeopathy, Allopathy and modern therapies with scientific experimentaion and documentation.

He said that physical exercise, yoga and meditation was helpful in checking heart problems but he cautioned against following any practice or therapy 'blindly'.

He emphasised on the need for checking blood sugar, as diabetic people were prone to heart attack.

He added Minimal Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypas (MIDCAB) procedure had been gaining popularity during the last few years.

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