‘Check smoking, stress, diet for heart health’

Lucknow: A sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Smoking damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and raises the risk of blood clots, all leading to heart ailments. This core message was conveyed by experts during several programmes held in the city to mark World Heart Day on Saturday.Head of cardiology department at Medanta, Dr R K Saran, emphasised critical importance of timely intervention during heart attacks, stating that such actions could save lives. The students, now designated as ‘heart ambassadors', will promote heart health awareness in their schools and communities.Dr Saran noted that poor diet, obesity, and inactivity were significant contributors to heart diseases, including ischemic heart disease and heart failure. He highlighted the rising rates of heart disease among post-menopausal women and called for improved awareness and healthcare access in underserved areas. Dr Lokendra Gupta reinforced the need for medical support during the ‘golden hour' of emergencies, urging everyone to learn CPR.In a separate event at Apollo Medics Hospital, experts discussed the impact of congenital heart conditions and lifestyle factors on heart health. Cardiologist Dr Ajay Bahadur revealed that approximately 1.75 million people died each year from heart disease globally, attributing this to fast-paced lifestyles, substance abuse and inadequate sleep, especially among youth. He identified poor diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and stress as major contributors to heart disease, noting that 90% of heart patients show early warning signs like chest pain and difficulty breathing.