Heart troubles

In January this year, cricketer and BCCI president Saurav Ganguly, who’s in his late 40s, suffered a minor heart attack. South Asians’ genetic constitution: a major cause for heart ailments “Genotype and phenotype : It is a well-established fact in medical literature that the population in the Indian subcontinent develops cardiac issues at least a decade before its western counterparts. Not exercising or physical inactivity and mental stress also enhance the chances of developing a heart attack.” — Dr Rajeev Menon, clinical director and head of the cardiology department, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad Unchecked familial high cholesterol : a CVD risk “Usually, 20% of heart attack patients these days are in their 30s and 40s. High stress also causes clot formation, obstructing blood supply to the heart.” — Dr GSR Murthy, consultant cardiologist, Care Hospital Faulty workout habits: cause for heart ailments among youth “The desire to get six- or eight-pack abs gets many youngsters to overexert themselves while working out, which is in contrast with the Ayurveda principle of ‘ardhvala’, that is, using ideally half of one’s strength. · Quit smoking · Avoid too much jaggery and date syrup · Avoid bakery foods laden with artificial colours and chemicals, sweets, refined flour · Avoid red meat, ghee, butter, egg yolk, trans fat or saturated fat and deep-fried food Early BP, lipid profile and blood sugar tests “Often heart ailments in younger people can be without symptoms.