Five lakh succumb to heart failure every year

An estimated five lakh new heart failure patients are added every year and about 40,000 new cases are reported in the two Telugu speaking States says a study.

The disease is onset a decade earlier in comparison to western patients and the reasons could be varied ranging from cultural, social, lifestyle, stress and other factors. Upto 45 per cent of heart failure patients are less than 60 years of age says the study.

The reasons of failure could be damage to the heart muscle caused by coronary artery disease or too much strain on the heart because of years of untreated high blood pressure or an abnormal heart valve.

The typical symptoms are difficulty in breathing, chronic cough, swollen ankles, legs and abdomen, weight gain, frequent urination during night, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeats, patients often experience a pounding sensation in the chest.

Minor lifestyle modifications like consuming healthy diet, regular exercise, monitoring and controlling hypertension, limiting salt consumption, reducing stress, give up smoking, tobacco chewing and drinking alcohol, can go a long way in the prevention and arresting of heart failure.

Dedicated to heart health
A dedicated heart failure clinic was launched in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Dr AGK Gokhale, Consultant Cardiothoracic, Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals said that the need to open the clinic stemmed from the fact that there has been a spike in cases and at least two to three per cent of the population suffers from heart problems.

“The idea is to have a dedicated centre where a patient need not go to several places as all state-of-the-art equipment would be available under one roof,” said the doctor.

In most cases, the non-availability of cardiologists causes problems. Dr Jayakeerthi Y Rao, Consultant Heart Failure Specialist, said, “The epidemic of diabetes, hypertension and ischemic heart disease is giving rise to a steady increase in incidence of heart failures.

“We want to be part of the prevention strategy and help to deal with this problem,” added the doctor. People in need can call the new Help Line 91000 70000.