In order to raise awareness about sudden cardiac death, the CSI will start reaching out to one million people in India on September 29, 2022.
New Delhi: Cardiologists are observing a sharp rise in sudden cardiac death.
Young adults in India are the worst affected. So on World Heart Day, the Cardiological Society of India (CSI), a group with more than 5000 registered cardiologists throughout India, organised a programme to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death. Dr Rajiv Gupta spoke at the event, who was is also the convener of the CSI-Preventive Cardiology Council and Head of the Departments of preventive cardiology, internal medicine, and research at the Eternal Heart Care Center in Jaipur.
We must educate schoolchildren about the imminent risk of chronic heart disease (CHD). so that they can become better citizens when they are adults. Dr Gupta emphasised pollution, depression, excessive screen time, high sugar intake, and a lack of physical activity as the primary factors triggering heart disease vulnerability among Indians among the different causes of CHD.
Dr Debabrata Roy, Honorary General Secretary of the CSI and Senior Consulting Interventional Cardiologist claims that this is taking place as a result of a remarkable change in lifestyle, including a lack of exercise, eating a diet high in carbohydrates (86 per cent of the diet consists of carbohydrates), and addiction to alcohol and tobacco. Fast food franchises are expanding. None of them follows the recommended levels of fat, salt, and sugar set by the FSSAI. Not just raising awareness, but also seeing to it that the neighbourhood adopts such lifestyle changes, are urgent needs.
The following risk factors for cardiovascular illnesses were discussed by the speakers:
- Changing to cleaner fuel
- Heart disease is becoming more prevalent as a result of increased pollution. The CHD risk will undoubtedly change if transportation uses clean fuel, according to CSI scientists.
More time spent on screens:
Most people now spend more time on their screens after Covid. Screen time has increased even though it was previously primarily used for work and education as enjoyment has moved to smartphones. As a result, passive behaviour increases, which raises the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease.
Social Disparity:
The speakers emphasised the connection between social injustice and depression as well as the links between unemployment and extreme poverty. Indirectly, this makes poor people more likely to get CHD.
The agenda for the awareness campaign includes:
- Goal one million
The CSI will start reaching out to one million people in India on September 29th, 2022, to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death. In order to raise awareness, the effort will involve setting up actual kiosks at educational institutions, shopping centres, housing societies, police stations, and post offices. Additionally, a virtual learning platform has been established to promote awareness through internet channels.
- CPR: A lifesaving skill
CALS, a campaign to promote CPR as a life skill, was also unveiled by CSI. It takes an average of two and a half minutes to revive patients who have collapsed because of SCD. The major goal of this programme is to make sure that individuals are aware of SCD symptoms, cautious of them, and capable of performing CPR right away.
