Number of diabetes, heart patients on rise in country

Bhopal, July 5 (UNI) Expressing concern over increasing number of diabetes and heart patients in the country, heart specialist Jugal Mishra today said regular routine and disciplined lifestyle needs to be adopted to prevent this.

Dr Mishra, who is Director of the Cardiac Surgery department at New Delhi-based Escorts Institute and Research Centre, said the country would have dubious distinction of having largest number of such patients by 2020 if their number continued to grow in this manner.

He pointed out that 50 per cent of diabetes patients were susceptible to heart disease due to deposit of cholesterol inside the arteries.

Dr Mishra, who was here to provide free treatment to heart patients during a medical camp, was concerned over young people between 30-35 years age group being affected by heart disease.

''Irregular routine, negligence in food habits, stress and smoking increase possibilities of heart ailment,'' he said.

The cardiologist said his organisation Paysuni Heart Foundation has launched a campaign for diabetes and heart patients. More than 10 lakh patients in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan had been provided free treatment through this organisation.

UNI SHD-PS 1752