“In India we require modification in our lifestyle to avoid heart-related medical problems. Prerequisite of healthy heart are: healthy diet, regular exercise, no smoking at all, use of relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga etc.” said Padma Bhushan Dr Trehan, senior heart surgeon, Apollo Hospitals and Chairman, Global Health Pvt Ltd.

Dr Trehan was invited by LMA to address its members on the topic, “India in the global healthcare scenario - Heart disease: the new epidemic”. Dr K.N.S. Kang, general secretary, LMA, welcomed the speaker, members and guests of the association on this occasion. V.K. Goyal, senior vice-president, LMA, introduced the speaker to the audience present there. Anil Kumar, president, LMA, extended presidential remarks.

While explaining the topic, Dr Kang, general secretary, LMA, said that there were modifiable and non-modifiable factors that could cause heart trouble. Modifiable factors such as obesity, stress, smoking, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle can be controlled by ourselves but non-modifiable factor such as genetic structure could not be changed. Thus one must take care of these modifiable factors at least to avoid heart-related problems.

While addressing the LMA members, Dr Trehan said that the attention towards health-care in India was comparatively lesser than other countries of the world. In USA 14 per cent of the budget amounting US $ 2.2 trillion is allocated to health-care. UK has allocated 92 billion pounds to healthcare. Whereas in India, 65 per cent of the expenditure on health care is borne by people’s pockets and health Insurance companies cover only 1 pc.

He said that the major reason was our own attitude of care-lessness about our health. There are 60,000 cardiac surgeries being done in India and it is estimated that the patients from 55 countries around the world come to India for treatment. But in India itself, Indians have given least priority to their health.

Dr Trehan further informed that on an average, Indians faced heart trouble 10 years before an American gets its with the same age group. Dr Trehan also pointed out that as compared to the population of the country, India was having less number of doctors, medical colleges and other facilities.