Heart Attack
Heart disease is the single largest cause of death in India with heart attacks being accountable for one third of all deaths caused by heart diseases. A heart attack is a result of the death of the heart muscle because of a loss of blood supply caused by blockage in one or more of a person’s coronary arteries. The major heart diseases are Angina, Congestive heart failure, Rheumatic heart disease and Atherosclerosis.
Most heart problems are directly linked to stress, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. As heart attacks are easily preventable, it is important to know about the precautions one must take to avoid costly visits to the hospital in future.
Prevention of Heart Attacks
To prevent heart attacks or other heart diseases, it is important to make changes in the lifestyle and live a healthy life. Undergoing medical check-ups regularly is equally important.
Given below are some of the basics to keep heart diseases at bay:
- Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking. Find alternative ways to cope with stress.
- Participate in physical activity. Exercise regularly, walk, run or practice yoga (under supervision or guidance).
- Control diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
A few specialized heart hospitals in India:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (External website that opens in a new window)
- Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (External website that opens in a new window)
- Apollo Hospitals (External website that opens in a new window)
- Narayana Hrudayalaya (External website that opens in a new window)
- Wockhardt Heart Hospitals (External website that opens in a new window)
- Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Banglore (External website that opens in a new window)
- BM Birla Heart Research Centre (External website that opens in a new window)
Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:12-02-2010 
