Heart disease on rise in hilly areas

Shimla, May 31 (UNI) Heart diseases are on rise in the hilly areas of the country due to changing lifestyle patterns and high stress levels, a senior cardiologist of a leading heart hospital today said.

"Heart diseases are on rise in the hilly areas as against a perception that it is widespread only in the plain areas," said Mr Praveen Chandra, director cardiac Cath Lab of Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute.

Replying to a question on rising incidents of heart attack among school children, he said they were affected by ''rheumatic heart diseases'' whereby the blood veins get narrow and lead to heart attacks.

Mr Chander said children residing in the hilly areas were more prone to heart diseases than children in the plain areas as they remain indoors and get infection as they do not get sufficient air.

He said heart diseases in young people were fatal in majority of the cases and its prevention was only possible through lifestyle modification and nutrition management.

"People having diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol content, family history of heart diseases and chain smokers are more likely to have heart diseases," he said on the sidelines of a free cardiac check up camp held here.

He said the country was likely to have about 100 million heart patients by 2020.

UNI AS PS MMS1721