One of the common agenda on discussion when two or more of senior citizens meet is about having undergone health check-up that has been recently undertaken. This meet gives impetus for others to undergo one such check up. Paradoxically undergoing heath check up need not be put off as a post-retirement schedule; indeed more lives are lost while young and being productive to society and to family. This is the truth when we talk of preventing deaths from heart attack.

Heart attack is the leading cause of death especially while being young, on global scenario � WHO statement ratifies this fact; next common cause is auto-mobile accidental / trauma deaths. Truly speaking heart attack is infact an accident by itself as it strikes spontaneously seldom with any warning signs. World heart day is round the corner and stress is to lay on prevention of such untimely deaths from heart attack.

Indian scenario is such that there is an aggressive disease pattern � atherosclerosis that is the key abnormal state finally culminating in serious heart attack. Being an Asian Indian is now regarded as a risk factor for pre-mature heart attack. Therefore we Indians should awaken ourselves and adopt such measures to lead a heart healthy life style to push our longevity and thereby contribute everyone�s mite to a healthier society and nation.

Also it is to be taken note that 30% of heart attack victims succumb before medical aid could be sought and this makes it imperative that anyone above 30 years should undergo a comprehensive health check up that would ensure that individual risk of occurrence of such serious event are identified and physician counseling sought towards further reduction of any identified risk factors and their related complications. Indeed the present adoption of lifestyle likes sedentary life style, early initiation into smoking; taking to fast food habits has resulted in a conspicuous burden of early age of onset of heart attack and its related associations namely � Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus and high blood cholesterol. It is now well known that India is in race to reach the global capital of Diabetes to the extent that one in every 4-5 persons are having pre-diabetic or full blown diabetic state.

It is interesting therefore to note that Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus and high blood cholesterol � the deadly triad cause no symptoms in 80% the patients unless the disease itself is in an advanced stage. It makes therefore mandatory for our race to subject ourselves at regular intervals to routine basic screening tests and medical examinations to ensure that we are healthy or remain healthy without bringing distress to our body. Having identified any such ailments through screening check up there are significant medical advances that has made treatment man-friendly. I am impressed by the quote �It is good to be alive� in our present times when medical science advancements have improved our survival in case we fall victim to heart attack despite taking abundant precautions to prevent the same. Prevention is not better, but prevention is the best.

Come and feel the joy of living by ensuring that you and your heart are healthier and sport a slogan �Love your own heart before giving your heart to your most loved�

Dr.S.MANOJ
Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Chennai
E-mail for any queries at
docmanojs@gmail.com