IMA Position Statement on Prevention of Heart Disease.

cardiac diseases are mainly due to---

1. lack of perfusion to cardiac muscle which inturn due to coronary vascular disease,which is itself is part of major syndrome that affecting the 21st cntury population due to their faltu life styles.

2. disturbances in Cardiac electrical system-arrhythmias which may lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

India is going through an epidemic of coronary artery disease. Not only the prevalence is high, Indians suffer from heart attack about ten years before rest of the world. 

Every 30 secs one death occurs due to heart attack.  

Following preventive measures has been suggested to be followed. 

• Exercise,especially aerobics,brisk walking  for 30minutes every day.
• change of life style ----pollution free environment,avoiding transfats,nicotine,alcohol &red meat.
• Managing stress. 
• periodical screening if family history is positive.              
•  initiating treatment within 4 hrs. of chest pain.
• awareness&accessibility-- ---- -- skill upgrading for  doctors in PHCs to recognise a cardiac event on ECG and availability of Trop T testing which does not require any equipment and how to give Thrombolytic agents.

Affordability?----- how to over come this major problem?

• reduce the cost by producing good quality implants at a much cheaper rate than now.
• We will have to cover every citizen of India under health insurance scheme. 
• Public sector banks, undertakings and the corporates will have to play a big role in this. EMI schemes in hospitals can also help a lot of patients.

But one should remember the main culprit for CAD is not cholesterol but its chronic inflammation and malnutrition especially of VIT-C deficiency @childhood.