HT : Urban professionals most prone to heart attack: study : Oct 11, 2007

Urban professionals most prone to heart attack: study

 Jaya Shroff
New Delhi

URBAN PROFESSIONALS and call centre workers are most likely to die early due
to a heart attack because of altered body clocks, bad food habits and
stress, says a study by a prominent city-based doctor, which says more than
50 per cent young working adults are prone to heart disease.

The study interviewed 2,051 subjects aged between 15 and 39 in Delhi and
Jaipur. A steep increase was seen in the hypertension and metabolic syndrome
in the age group 30-34 years. In women, a steep increase in the prevalence
of obesity was observed in the age group 2529 years.

The study blamed mechanised lifestyle for the diseases and said nutritional
imbalance, physical inactivity, stress, alcohol and tobacco use are adding
to heart stress.

"Particularly noticeable is a rapid increase in western 'fast foods' outlets
and sale of aerated drinks. Availability of fried foods in cafeterias
increase predisposition to obesity and insulin at a very early age," said Dr
Anoop Misra, Director, Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Fortis
Hospitals.

The study observed that there was a changing trend from consumption of
traditional foods (low saturated fat, simple sugars, fibre rich food) to
consumption of energy dense imbalanced foods (high calories, carbohydrates,
saturated fats and low fibre).

Misra said that those young adults with a family history of diabetes, heart
ailments or obesity were most likely to be affected. "Prevention should
start from teenage years itself," he said.

Regular blood tests, brisk walks and weight management alongside nutritious
diet were vital to healthy living.

"Owing to developmental transition, young Asian Indians are most susceptible
to cardio-metabolic syndrome. In the last 20 years, lifestyle disease has
fast replaced the nutrition-deficiency disease," said C. Gopalan, Director,
General Nutrition Foundation of India.

He also suggested that this trend was reversible, if there was more
awareness and discipline included in the present day living.
jaya.shroff@hindustantimes.com Signs to look out for Metabolic syndrome
disease symptoms in girls ? Cysts in ovaries ? Development of facial hair ?
Abnormal menstrua tion cycles ? Low levels of good cholesterol Metabolic
syndrome disease symptoms in boys ? High blood pressure ? High cholesterol ?
Early occurrence of diabetes ? Hypertension


Publication : HT; Section : Nation; Pg : 9; Date : 11/10/07
URL :
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=11_10_2007_009_003&typ=0&pub=264