1% Of India's Population Is Now Affected With This Disease

Around 1% of India's population suffers from congenital and structural cardiac diseases, a noted pediatric cardiologist said.

Dr. K. Siva Kumar, who is head of the pediatric cardiology department at Madras Medical Mission hospital in Chennai, India, did not reveal the source of the figure but said these cardiac conditions make people's lives "suboptimal," The Times of India reported.

Heart diseases are disorders that affect the heart or blood vessels, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Treatment for these diseases, such as the previously followed open-heart approach, used to be unreliable, the doctor claimed.

However, the adoption of the latest medical procedures, such as interventional approach by a catheter from the groin area, has helped cardiologists handle critical surgeries with precision unlike in the past, Kumar noted.

These procedures were not only accurate, but they also helped patients recover fast and minimize their hospital stays, the doctor told media Tuesday at a workshop that was jointly organized by the DBC and Aayush hospital networks.

Kumar took up eight cases for treatment during the novel interventional cardiac workshop at DVC Hospitals and Research Center in Vadlamudi, and all eight were due for discharge Thursday.

Around 696,900 people in the U.S. died of heart disease back in 2020, making it the leading cause of death in the country that year, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It was followed by cancer and COVID-19, which caused the deaths of 602,350 and 350,831 people, respectively.

High blood pressure and blood cholesterol as well as smoking are key factors for heart disease, the CDC said.

Other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including diabetes, weight or obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use, according to the health agency.

The CDC recommends that people choose healthy foods and drinks, keep a healthy weight, get regular physical activity and stop smoking to prevent heart disease.

"By living a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal and lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack," the CDC said