Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Cardiologist Dr Skand Kumar Trivedi says living away from green spaces and air pollution are causing heart problems. Free Press talked to him on issues related to heart illness. Excerpts.
Heart attack cases are on rise. Even people below 30 years are falling prey to it. In last three months, young people died due to cardiac seizure at marriage procession, while dancing and playing badminton. Disconnection from nature is increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases including heart disease in India. Living away from green spaces and air pollution may be contributing factors. In Delhi, irritation is noticed in public and it is just because of high pollution level. There must be cycle track, walking track and park in urban areas for people.
The lifestyle has also changed. How does it affect health, specially heart?
We have stopped walking, cycling, doing physical work. Home delivery of goods has become part of our lifestyle. Poor public transport system force people to drive cars. Now, people avoid walking even a mile from home to main road to take public transport. In rural areas, people go miles even to fetch drinking water. People still do physical work in rural areas but in urban areas everything is delivered at home.
How does prolonged exposure to pollution affect human genes
Epigenetics is the study of how environmental and behavioural factors affect genes. These changes can be passed down to generations. Factors that affect genes include diet, physical activity, access to resources and environmental exposures. Prolong exposure to pollution and unhealthy atmosphere will affect gene pool of people. Authorities concerned should consider these things. The system should be such that people should walk and work to stay fit. People have become self-judgmental about diet and gym exercise. They decide their diet and also the exercise.
How does it affect their health specially heart?
Processed foods contribute to obesity and rising prevalence of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Processed food is harmful for heart. Even in fruit juice, processed sugar is used, which is dangerous. Raw pulses are good but protein, which people are consuming after gym exercise is processed. This is also harmful.
How is liquor, smoking, tobacco addiction responsible for diseases?
The effects of tobacco smoke raises blood pressure and heart rate and contribute to constriction (tightening) of blood vessels under the skin. The other drawback is that it reduces oxygen carried by blood during exercise. It causes clotting, damage to lining of arteries, which is thought to be a contributing factor to atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls). This reduces blood flow to extremities (fingers and toes) and increases risk of stroke and heart attack due to blockages of blood supply.
