September 30, 2007, celebrated as the ‘World Heart Day,’ has destined to eradicate the disease from the entire world. The beat of the day was ‘Team Up For Healthy Hearts.’

As per the WHO estimations, around 17.5 million people died due to heart disease and stroke every year.

Specialists think that the common condition is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is caused by thickening of artery walls because of fat deposits. This could cause angina, heart attacks and even unexpected death.

About 60 per cent of the world’s heart related troubles will be Indian. Presently, the number of cardiac patients in India is exceeding five crores, which will be doubled by next three years.

Many studies have discovered that Asians as a race are prone to heart problems as compared to people of other races. The other factors include genetic predisposition, lifestyle changes, stress, smoking and pollution also held responsible for the problem.

The main factors that play a vital role in causing heart related problems are obesity, cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, family history, fat deposits, rheumatic fever, inflammation, and many others. Amendable cardiovascular risks comprise obesity, high cholesterol, use of tobacco, use of alcohol, hypertension, lack of exercise, and unhealthy diet.

Adopting a healthy and active lifestyle will cut down risk of developing heart problem by 25%. Daily workout ranging from 30 to 60 minutes on a daily basis is also good for keeping heart healthy. Having plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and dairy products low in fat provides protective benefits for the heart. Food rich in Omega -3 fatty acid (Fish) is known to protect the heart. The other constituents to stay healthy include maintaining optimum body weight, regular health monitoring, regular check ups of cholesterol and blood sugar.

Following up healthy plans for a healthy heart – It is after all ‘yours truly’. Prevent heart disease. Beat the heart blues away - team up for healthy hearts.