World Heart Day: Learn it from the doctors

A day before World Heart Day, city-based octogenarian doctors, who have practiced for 50 years, gathered and gave tips for a healthy life and on prevention of heart disorder. In India, heart disease-related deaths are on rise and account for as much as a quarter of all deaths in the country.

It has also been recently observed by experts that heart diseases are increasingly affecting young adults. Doctors advise that precautions must be taken at a young age, for a healthier old age. Dr Pravin Kanabar, senior orthopaedic surgeon, said that a balanced lifestyle was the main reason of his healthy heart and life at this age. “I ask one question to myself daily. Have I made any difference to someone’s life? I have treated thousands of patients in my career and to treat those who are ailing, first I have to be fit myself. Daily exercise is the basic thing each individual must do,” said Kanabar.

“I have asked all my patients to follow a balanced exercise chart. Both too little or too much exercise could be harmful. One must keep the body’s joints active,” added Dr Kanabar.

Another senior clinical cardiologist, Jyotindra Bhatt, said: “One must learn the art of stress management. Walking is the best exercise that anyone can do at any age. Meditation and regular exercise is the secret of my healthy life. I advise people to maintain a balanced diet. Like any other human being, I too eat junk food but within control and never skip exercise.”

Dr Sameer Dani said, “Every week, we see a minimum of two-three cases of heart attacks wherein the patient is aged 20-30 years. Previously, when compared to males, fewer heart attacks were observed among females.”