Health Heart Campaign and Heart Screening Camp organised to Mark World Heart Day

Patiala, September 26, 2021:  With an alarming rise in the number of people suffering from Heart ailments in India, a Health Heart Campaign with Youths of Patiala and Heart Screening Camp on the occasion of World Heart Day is being organised. On this occasion Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhinder SHO Police Station Civil Lines was present as Chief Guest. He appreciated the youth for their enthusiasm and for being part of this healthy heart campaign. Dr. Deepak Katyal Consultant Cardiologist Columbia Asia Hospital Patiala delivered a talk on how to keep your heart healthy. The camp started on 16th September and would go on till 3rd October. The camp has been providing complete heart checkup facilities including blood sugar, lipid profile, serum creatinine, potassium, platelet count, ECG, screening ECHO and a detailed consultation with cardiologist at a very cost-effective price. Services like angiography, angioplasty, pacemaker and AICD have also been made available. During awareness event members of Patiala Street Riders, Fun on Wheels, Himalayan Riders, Young Khalsa Riders, Patiala Roadies and Patiala Women Riders and many other were present.
World Heart Day is celebrated every year on 29th September with the intent of raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases. Each year it has a different theme which addresses a new aspect of heart diseases. This year, the theme on World Heart Day is “Use Heart to Connect”. Use Heart to Connect is about using your knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure you, your loved ones and the communities you’re part of have the best chance to live heart-healthy lives. It’s about connecting with our own hearts, making sure we’re fueling and nurturing them as best we can, and using the power of digital to connect every heart, everywhere.
More than 60 people have already taken benefit of the screening camp and more are expected to turn up in the last days of the camp.
“Any discomfort or any exertions in chest, a person experiences, could be linked to heart and should not be ignored. Patients often tend to neglect chest pain citing acidity or gastric trouble which often leads to catastrophic results,” said Dr. Deepak Katyal Consultant Cardiologist Columbia Asia Hospital, Patiala.
India is currently witnessing an acute crisis of cardiovascular diseases as reported by World Health Organization. The report stated that said India has the highest rate of cardiac arrests in the world.  Nearly two million heart attacks take place in India each year and majority of the victims are youngsters. The fact that one person dies every 33 seconds owing to a heart attack in India is highly alarming. If the current trend continues, the rate of cardiovascular diseases in India will surpass that of any other country in the world, by the year 2021.
There are many types of heart diseases like coronary artery disease, angina and valvular heart diseases being some of the most common in India. 
“Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, genetic history, lifestyles, especially the higher intake of carbohydrate rich foods and lack of regular physical exercise are top factors that lead to heart attack. Smoking is another factor that leads to heart problems. Smoking must be avoided and people should eat high-fiber low-saturated food items, besides leading an active life to avoid the problem related to heart,” said Dr Sandeep Thakkar Consultant Cardiologist at Columbia Asia Hospital Patiala.  
Currently, the key challenges that India faces regarding heart ailments are inadequate facilities, lack of accessibility, high costs of efficient and effective treatment and lack of awareness about cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle changes like healthy eating with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, combined with daily exercise and a stress-free environment can keep heart diseases at bay to quite an extent. Regular check-ups of lipid profile and adherence to medications are also very important.
The heart screening camp is an initiative by Columbia Asia Hospital – A Unit of Manipal Hospitals  to spread awareness on heart related ailments and what precaution and lifestyle changes can make a difference in the health of the heart of people. Various other camps have been organized by the hospital in recent past, targeting issues such as Diabetes, Gastrology and Mental Health.