World Heart Day

World Heart Day, is an annual observance and celebration on September 29th that's intended to extend public awareness of cardiovascular diseases, including their prevention and their global impact.

Cardiovascular diseases are the foremost common explanation for death globally. Within the early 2000s, roughly 17 million people worldwide died from cardiovascular diseases annually. Most of those deaths were the results of coronary heart condition or stroke. Although cardiovascular diseases are often considered to be afflictions of individuals living in developed countries, where sedentary lifestyle is common, about 80 percent of deaths from these diseases occur in low- and middle-income developing countries. The primary causes of cardiovascular diseases—poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking—are considered modifiable factors. Thus, even in developing countries, which frequently lack efficient health care programs, many of those diseases are often prevented. Cardiovascular diseases even have a serious impact on economic systems within countries, due to the high health care costs related to treatment and lost productivity related to disability and absenteeism from work.

Apollo Diagnostics too has taken an initiative and provides multiple heart related tests like: -

Lipid Profile Test- Fasting for at least 12 hours before the test is mandatory.
APOLIPOPROTEIN A1 AND B - 12 hours fasting is required before the test. You are suggested not to consume food or the other fluids, except water.
High-sensitivity C-reactiveProtein (hs-CRP)

A decent work-life balance with low stress levels is vital for a healthy heart. Negative emotions, stress and tension pump up the secretion of epinephrine within the body and may precipitate vulnerable plaques and large heart attacks.

As Indians we also lack behind in fitness routines. A healthy diet with an exercise routine is must to avoid or delay heart diseases. Have you ever measured your waist lately? It's said anything greater than 80 cm (32 inches) for ladies and 94 cm (37 inches) for men means increased risk.

Prevention

People of each age and gender, regardless of family history of heart diseases are getting cardiovascular diseases. It cannot be avoided completely, but it can be delayed by adopting a healthy lifestyle starting today.

Here are a couple of tips to take care of a healthy heart:

Eat Right –Eat more fruits and vegetables, fibre rich wholegrain, nuts, legumes, seeds, and low-fat dairy products. Adapting healthier cooking methods also can make an enormous difference.
Maintain a lively lifestyle – Get into the habit of daily yoga, aerobics, or brisk walks. Regularity in your fitness routine is as important as starting the activity.
No smoking – Avoid passive smoke as well because it also poses a significant hazard.
Family history – It's essential to stay on track with the family history of heart diseases because it increases your risk of getting one. You control or delay your risk of heart condition by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not smoking and eating right.
Stress – Long-term stress causes a rise in pulse and vital sign which will damage the artery walls. Learn some stress management techniques like meditation and deep breathing to relax yourself.

As soon as you turn 60 years old, you want to get an ankle-brachial index test done every year. The test will assess the heartbeat in your feet to assist in diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a lesser-known disorder during which plaque builds up within the leg arteries.

Precaution is better than cure, and it’s best done with the help of experts. The keys to having a healthy heart is up to us and can be achieved if we follow the advice from our experienced doctors from Apollo Diagnostics to ensure your well-being and to test with the best.