The non-communicable diseases commonly include cardiovascular disease (CVD), various cancers, chronic respiratory illness, diabetes and so on which are estimated to account for around 60% of all deaths.
At present, India has the highest burden of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). Another significant problem in India, among other CVDs is hypertensive heart disease.
The common cardiac diseases are hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, rheumatic heart diseases and arrhythmic disorders.
Coronary artery disease
A heart attack, also called coronary artery disease, is seen due to blockage of blood vessels due to plaque, dissection, embolism. Patient complains of discomfort in the chest, radiating pain to left hand, associated with sweating.
People who are prone to heart attack are people with diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, elderly person and high cholesterol.
The major concern for the Indian population is heart attack is seen in younger population above 30 years unlike western countries.
People can prevent a heart attack by consuming healthy food and avoiding oily foods, regular exercise and a regular health check-up.
Heart failure
A heart failure takes place when pumping of heart decreases leading to accumulation of fluid in lungs. Symptoms of heart failure are exertional breathlessness, breathlessness at night, leg swelling and abdomen distention. Treatment of the heart failure includes treating the cause medically and surgically.
A patient is said to be hypertensive or has a high BP when his BP is more than 140/90 mm when resting.
Rheumatic heart disease is a previous throat infection causing obstruction or leakage in the heart valve. Rheumatic heart disease can be detected when a patient, usually middle-aged women, come with palpitations, breathlessness and fatigue.
These patients can be treated medically as well as surgically.
Arrhythmic disorder takes place when a patient has an increase or decrease in heart rate. Patient complains of black outs, palpitations and giddiness.
Treatment for low heart rate includes pacemakers, for high rate include drugs and catheter ablation. Wishing all a healthy heart.
(The writer is Interventional Cardiologist at Lakeview Goaves Hospital, Belgaum)
