‘Heart diseases on the rise among the young’

Lifestyle, stress contributory factors, says expert

Change in lifestyle and stress are contributing to the increase in cardiac-related diseases and diabetes even among the youth, according to K.S.Sadananda, Medical Superintendent, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research.

Speaking after inaugurating a cardiac check-up camp for journalists here on Saturday, he said work-related stress and lack of exercise was compounding the issue and there was an alarming increase in the number of youngsters being afflicted with heart-related diseases. The age at which they contract the disease was also decreasing.

Dr. Sadananda said compared to rest of the world, the number of patients with high blood pressure and diabetes was almost two- to three-fold higher among Indians and even the ratio of people with cardiac-related issues to the general population, was high. The number of youngsters with heart-related issues being treated in the present times was higher than what it was two or three decades ago.