Monday, Mar 19, 2007
Experts Call for Change in Urban Lifestyles for Cardiovascular Health
By Ruchi Gupta
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Following a sedentary lifestyle and a high-calorie diet intake is largely responsible for the increasing number of patients with cardiovascular diseases in urban areas.
According to Dr. Salim Yusuf, a renowned cardiologist and epidemiologist, urbanisation is not only inevitable, it is desirable as well, but he adds, "we need to capitalise on its useful effects".
Dr. Yusuf, who is the Director of Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, Canada, told participants at a seminar titled "Impact of Lifestyle on Cardiovascular Health" that various factors were responsible for cardiovascular diseases related to urbanisation, like psychological stress, increase in fat consumption, tobacco use, and decrease in physical activity.
In his keynote address titled "The Global Increase in Cardiovascular Diseases--Inevitable or Preventable", Dr Yusuf said that societal change and the transition from a rural to an urban lifestyle were responsible for heart-related illnesses.
A study conducted in 52 countries states that various modifiable risk factors account for increase in cardiovascular diseases. Among them, smoking accounts for CVD in 36 percent of the cases, abdominal obesity 33 per cent, diabetes 12 per cent, hypertension 23 per cent, besides alcohol, lack of exercise and low vegetable and fruit intake.
In comparison to the western dietary pattern, Dr Yusuf said, vegetable and fruits have a protective effect on the body.
He observed that Indians do not eat a healthy vegetable diet. They consume more of onions, potatoes and bananas, which have comparatively higher carbohydrates content over nutritional.
The 20th century witnessed 100 million deaths due to tobacco intake, and if a similar trend continues, deaths in the next century will increase by 10 per cent, Dr Yusuf warned.
A cigarette increases myocardial infarction (MI) risk by six percent and decreases life by 20 minutes.
Smoking a pipe or a cigar or filter and non-filter cigarettes - also carry an almost equal risk factor.
Demonstration, individual counselling, ban on smoking in public places, increase in tax on tobacco are few of the ways to control tobacco consumption.
"Ten percent increase in tax is equivalent to saving 10 million lives," he said.
Obesity, another lifestyle reason for cardiovascular disease, can be checked by change in social norms.
"Instead of feeding guests, which is a norm, take guests out for a walk. Tax unhealthy food and subsidise healthy food, fruits and vegetables. Change transportation facilities, decrease use of cars and increase use of bicycle and walking. Cities should be planned to make activity friendly, make walking and biking on roads safe," said Dr. Yusuf.
"Cars are bad for your health. Nobody should use elevators for seven floors, and the schools curriculum should have a balanced time for mental and physical activities," he said. (ANI)
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