15 pc bank employees are at cardiac risk, say experts

15 pc bank employees are at cardiac risk, say experts

Express News Service

Posted online: Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 0116 hrs IST

Chandigarh, May 02
Bank professionals are more prone to heart disease due to a sedentary lifestyle and long working hours, said Dr U P Singh, cardiologist and managing director of Prime Heart and Vascular Institute, Mohali.

He said that a recent study has revealed that 15 per cent of bank employees are at cardiac risk, a disturbing phenomenon. Singh was addressing bank employees on the inauguration of the four-day special heart checkup camp here.

“The rate of heart disease among Asian Indians worldwide is 50 to 400 per cent, higher than people of other ethnic origins irrespective of gender, religion or class,” he said.

Dr J Sadakkadulla, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, said that every organisation is concerned about the well-being of its employees, the lack of which can influence the performance and productivity.

Dr Puneet K Verma, Executive Director, Prime Heart, said that genetic predisposition of urban Indians gets further aggravated due to the lifestyle factors thereby making them more prone to heart disease.

“Prevention and early detection is the only solution to avoid heart attack,” said Dr T P Singh, cardiologist, Prime Heart. “The disease does not present any symptom before a heart attack. Unfortunately more than 50 per cent persons who suffer heart attack die before any medical help can reach them,” he said.

Cardiologists said walking daily for 45-60 minutes is sufficient to prevent weight gain and walking 56 kilometers per week is necessary for weight loss. Leisure walk has negligible beneficial effect on the heart, they added. “Interval exercise is much better. One can begin with warm up followed by brisk walk/jogging for 3-4 minutes. After this, slow walk for 1-2 min and then jogging follows. These cycles should be repeated. The sudden bursts of jogging have more heart protective effect,” said the experts.

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15 pc bank employees are at cardiac risk, say experts Express News Service Posted online: Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 0116 hrs IST Chandigarh, May 02 Bank professionals are more prone to heart disease due to a sedentary lifestyle and long working hours, said Dr U P Singh, cardiologist and managing director of Prime Heart and Vascular Institute, Mohali. He said that a recent study has revealed that 15 per cent of bank employees are at cardiac risk, a disturbing phenomenon. Singh was addressing bank employees on the inauguration of the four-day special heart checkup camp here. “The rate of heart disease among Asian Indians worldwide is 50 to 400 per cent, higher than people of other ethnic origins irrespective of gender, religion or class,” he said. Dr J Sadakkadulla, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India, said that every organisation is concerned about the well-being of its employees, the lack of which can influence the performance and productivity. Dr Puneet K Verma, Executive Director, Prime Heart, said that genetic predisposition of urban Indians gets further aggravated due to the lifestyle factors thereby making them more prone to heart disease. “Prevention and early detection is the only solution to avoid heart attack,” said Dr T P Singh, cardiologist, Prime Heart. “The disease does not present any symptom before a heart attack. Unfortunately more than 50 per cent persons who suffer heart attack die before any medical help can reach them,” he said. Cardiologists said walking daily for 45-60 minutes is sufficient to prevent weight gain and walking 56 kilometers per week is necessary for weight loss. Leisure walk has negligible beneficial effect on the heart, they added. “Interval exercise is much better. One can begin with warm up followed by brisk walk/jogging for 3-4 minutes. After this, slow walk for 1-2 min and then jogging follows. These cycles should be repeated. The sudden bursts of jogging have more heart protective effect,” said the experts.