Obesity, sedentary lifestyle hurting Mumbaikars heart: study

, Sept 26: Growing incidence of obesity, coupled with a sedentary

has worsened heart problems for Mumbaikars, a recent study conducted in the metropolis found.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in India with around 35 per cent of the population suffering from heart strokes every year. On an average, 3 out of 10 people suffer from some form of heart disease or the other, said the study conducted by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, India's leading multi-national chain of diagnostic centers.

The survey carried out on the working class population here ahead of World Heart Day 2014, reveals that obesity and sedentary lifestyle are main culprits for heart problems for Mumbaikars. The general consensus was that heart disease was more prevalent in men, but the study has revealed an alarming fact that women in India were equally prone to cardiovascular disease.

Out of 1,19,356 samples (female) studied in the age group of 20 to 80 and above, 47,283 female respondents were found prone to heart ailment, with the main contributing factor being bad lifestyle, inappropriate diet and physical inactivity. Smoking and diabetes have also emerged as major factors responsible for taking away hormonal immunity from pre-menopausal women.

Out of total Lp(a) test sample of 16,943 in Mumbai between the age group of 20 and 80, 40.13 per cent reported a high level of lipoprotein A in the city. The Lp(a) test is used to identify an elevated level of Lipoprotein (a) as a possible risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The most important factor to note is that High Lp(a) can occur in people with a normal lipid profile and hence Lp(a) uncovers risk that might be hidden in the routine cholesterol testing. Sonali Kolte, General Manager, Medico Marketing, Metropolis Healthcare said, "The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease has been steadily rising in India.

The major factors attributed for this were changes in lifestyle, lack of exercise, consumption of unhealthy food, increased stress levels and amplified smoking and use of tobacco".

PTI