Heart-related ailments have emerged a giant killer in India. At least 27 per cent of deaths in the country are due to cardiovascular diseases. This figure is expected to rise to 35 per cent in the coming years. India has over 60 million coronary heart patients and more than two million patients die of the disease every year. A recent study indicates that there has been 10-fold increase in coronary artery disease over the past 40 years. This is cause for serious concern. Not only are cardiac problems growing in incidence but also, these are afflicting the young as well. People below the age of 40 account for over 30 per cent of those with heart problems in this country. While cardiac problems are sometimes genetic and inherited, often they can be traced to unhealthy lifestyles. The growing incidence of cardiac problems in India has been attributed to mounting stress and pressure, unhealthy food and lack of physical activity. Junk food has become the daily diet of youngsters in India. Children prefer to play computer games rather than engage in physical outdoor activity. Adults work in a high-pressure environment and have little time for recreation. Urban lifestyles are more conducive to cardiac problems and this is evident from the higher incidence of heart ailments in cities. Urban Indians are three times as likely as their rural counterparts to fall victim to cardiac problems.

Heart ailments are expensive to treat. The economic burden it imposes on the victim and his family is staggering. The loss that the economy incurs as a result of heart disease, stroke etc, was around $ 9 billion in 2005 and expected to cross $ 200 billion in the coming decade. Prevention of cardiac problems is possible and infinitely cheaper. What is more, cardiac problems can be avoided by introducing small changes in our diet and lifestyle.
Cardiac ailments are not any more a problem for the aged alone to worry about. It is an issue of concern for youngsters as well. Therefore steps to tackle it should be taken early in life. Schools need to spread awareness among children about the importance of exercise and healthy diets. They should discourage the sale of unhealthy foods on campus. IT companies are providing gyms to encourage exercise but they need to ensure that employees are not subjected to killing deadlines or irregular work hours. It makes economic sense to ensure the well-being of your work-force.