50% corporates suffer from heart disease due to bad air

There has been a significant rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the city, according to a health survey conducted by Indus Health Plus, a Mumbaibased health care centre.

According to doctors, one of the main reasons for this increase in CVD is polluted air, which is harmful for the lungs and directly affects the heart. Over 50 per cent corporate employees, both men and women, suffer from CVD.

Every year, September 29 is celebrated as World Heart Day, in order to spread awareness about multiple heart problems and the need to educate people on how they can improve their heart health. “Efforts are being made to foster everyone about the small changes that can make a powerful difference and make the heart healthy,” said a senior doctor.

A global initiative created by the World Heart Federation to better educate citizens about the prevalence of CVD, serves as an opportunity for clinicians to review the rapidly evolving patterns in CVD epidemiology and refocus on the implementation of policies and therapeutic approaches that incorporate healthy lifestyle changes and prioritize CVD prevention.

Doctors said that cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality globally as well as in India. “More than 50 per cent of corporate employees, both men and

women are at a risk of suffering heart ailments in Mumbai due to stress and late night work. Day-to-day lifestyle modifications and changes like jogging, stair climbing, healthy eating, playing an outdoor game, etc. help in reducing the risk of heart ailments,” added Amol Naikawadi, preventive healthcare specialist.

A senior doctor of Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy Hospital said: “Air pollution can be the reason for heart disease but till now there has been no such substantial evidence by which it can be said that due to polluted air people are affected by heart diseases.”