JOIN USAfter smoking and diabetes, hypertension is the third biggest cause of heart attack among Indians.
Thus, in addition to a healthy body, stress on a healthy mind is the key to reduce such ailments, said experts at a seminar at Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital.
State health minister Dr A K Walia quoted a report by Directorate of Health Services, Delhi which stated that seven per cent of the slum population in Delhi suffers from hypertension.
He said people should avoid smoking and it is the need of the hour to reduce stress levels too.
“Heart attack is increasingly becoming a matter of worry in terms of numbers, especially in urban India.
We receive 30 t0 40 cases every day in our emergency dedicated to heart diseases. Four to five of them need immediate angioplasty,” said Dr Sanjay Tyagi, head, cardiology department, G B Pant.
Indians have high levels of fatty acids due to their diet pattern. Doctors said they should avoid consuming ghee and oil.
“Even if it is light oil like mustard or olive, one should not consume freely. It is advised to keep oil content low in food," said Dr Mohit Gupta, faculty, cardiology department, G B Pant.
He said positive thoughts and energy, in combination with proper physical exercise is important to keep heart diseases at bay.
“One should spend energy in clear, constructive and creative thoughts. It is common to expel energies on negative feelings about others.
To avoid heart diseases, one should avoid negative thoughts too,” said Dr Gupta.
He said people should take out time for family and friends and leave work related stress in office.