'Currently India is home to at least 60 million coronary heart patients and nearly two million patients are succumbing to the disease every year,' renowned cardiologist Naresh Trehan said on World Heart Day Sunday.
'The burden of the disease will weigh heavily on the economic backbone of the country unless people bring a change in their lifestyles. Along with the loss in human capital, the country's economy will suffer on account of loss in working days and treatment costs,' Trehan said.
According to doctors, people should quit smoking and stay away from alcohol.
Indians also need to walk daily and take the stairs rather than the elevator. A nap after lunch will help. Equally important: be clam, reduce stress.
Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has earlier told IANS that his ministry was concerned over the growing threat of the disease.
'India is the diabetes capital of the world and the heart ailments too are becoming a big headache. People just need to be a little cautious to avoid such problems,' Ramadoss had said.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, India's economic loss due to heart related disease could be $236 billion by 2015.
While Russia may lose $303 billion, China is expected to lose over $550 billion in the next decade.
Over 17 million people die of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke every year. Contrary to popular belief, over 80 percent of the deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.
According to data available with the health ministry, the prevalence of coronary heart diseases among the urban population was far more than rural areas. Metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are more prone to such problems.
