PANAJI
Cardiovascular diseases account for 17% of all deaths in Goa, making them the single largest cause of mortality in the state, claimed senior pathologist Dr Roque Wiseman Pinto.
He was speaking at an interactive presentation titled ‘Life’s Journey – The Long Haul’, organised as part of the centenary celebrations of Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias in Miramar. Dr Pinto drew on his long engagement with medical records and post-mortem data to underline the scale of the problem.
“At the medical records department, I studied post-mortem reports, pathology findings and death certificates and found that cardiovascular diseases were the most common cause of death among people in Goa, accounting for about 17%,” said Pinto, referring to a 2008 study he conducted on mortality patterns in Goa.
Attributing the rise in heart disease to lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, drugs and underlying conditions like hypertension and diabetes, Pinto said cardiac ailments, including myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and heart failure, are increasingly affecting younger people. “Usually, heart attacks would occur in older people, sixty years and above, but in the last ten years, we have been seeing younger people with heart attacks,” he said. He also warned that outwardly fit individuals are at risk due to steroid and hormone use, citing a Margao gym instructor who ignored chest pain and delayed an ECG, underscoring the importance of timely medical evaluation and follow-up.
Pinto also highlighted the prevalence of diabetes in Goa, noting that one in four people in the state are affected. He warned that diabetes can lead to serious complications, including kidney failure, stroke, dementia and organ damage. “Diabetic foot is a major concern, and Goa Medical College performs an average of one amputation daily, either of a toe or the entire leg,” he said, underscoring the severity of unmanaged diabetes.
Pinto also addressed cancer, noting that while the exact causes are not fully understood, around 30% of cancers are linked to smoking and passive smoking. “Cancer develops due to changes in genes, including oncogenes and repair genes. If the body’s repair mechanisms are strong, the risk is lower,” he said, adding that environmental and lifestyle factors such as pollution, alcohol, certain occupations, infections and food additives also contribute to cancer risk.
Speaking about pollution, Pinto cited extensively studied cases, including one involving Delhi, where air pollution has been linked to construction, vehicular emissions and industrial activity. In Goa, he noted that mining areas, coal handling, industrial estates and road construction are emerging concerns.
“Pollution can cause serious lung and respiratory diseases and can even affect a baby before birth through the placenta,” he said, stressing that lifestyle is the main concern for health problems and advising steps to overcome them.
