Punjab fast emerging heart disease capital of nation

Ludhiana, May 1, 2014: Punjab - fast emerging as the heart disease capital of nation, with protein-rich Punjabi diet and sedentary lifestyle,is wreaking havoc on heart’s health, said Padam Bhushan Awardee - intervention cardiologist Dr. T.S. Kler at a tete-a-tete session of media with the cardiac sciences team of Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana.
Introducing the cardiac team of Fortis Hospital Ludhiana, Vivan Singh Gill, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Ludhiana said that since the heart ailments debilitate other vital organs too such as kidney, chest and liver which may cause cancer or infection in any part of body.  The need of the hour at hospital is to have a strong team of cardiac sciences that can tackle all such emergencies under one roof.
Introducing the strong team of Fortis Hospital to media, Gill said that the team comprises of intervention cardiologist Dr TS Kler and Dr Paramdeep Sandhu (who has done fellowship in CTO (Chronic Total Occlusions) from Tokyo Japan), cardiac surgeon Dr VK Sharma (has performed more than 15000 cardiac surgeries), cardiac anesthetist Dr Sheetal Garg and electro physiologist Dr Rajat Sharma.
Besides this the renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Ravul Jindal for vascular support, intensivist Dr. Vinay Singhal, pulmonologist Dr. Amit Gupta, nephrologist Dr Navdeep Khaira, medical oncologist, Dr. Jagdev Singh Sekhon,  general surgeon Dr. Harish Matta and orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Sanjeev Mahajan are also part of the team.
Dr Kler, who has performed 30000 angiographies, said while India was on verge of becoming heart disease capital of the world, in India, Punjab was fast emerging as heart disease capital of the nation.
Sharing his observations on the rising graph of heart ailments Dr Kler said it has high prevalence among Punjabi youth where mortality rate due to heart ailments is highest in country. Punjab is one of richest states of country having high per capita income. Since socio-economic status has an important role to play in causing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Punjab automatically falls as a victim – and that too worst one, he added. CAD was assuming large proportions due to changing lifestyles, lack of exercise, stress and habits like alcohol and smoking.
Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking and obesity were amongst high risk factors influencing heart diseases. To prevent heart diseases one should eat less fried food, less butter and ghee, exercise daily for around 45 minutes and reduce stress in life.
At the cardiac unit of Fortis Hospital Ludhiana, complete care has been taken to minimize trauma, maximize gain of health and give expert cardiac services to patients. The cardiac surgery prices being competent as compared to other cardiac health facilities in other hospitals located in Ludhiana, makes it the best treatment option for every patient.
With all surgeons from other specialities are available for complex abdominal and thoracic procedures and the state of art facilities available, a heart patient suffering from allied problems will not have to run from pillar to post.