Why Cardiac Screening is Essential for Everyone, Not Just Heart Patients

The Heart of the Matter

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global deaths, making cardiac screening a critical aspect of preventive healthcare for not only heart patients but for everyone. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases contribute to 27% of total deaths in India annually, with nearly 45% occurring in the 40-69 age group. 

Additionally, sedentary lifestyles have contributed to the rise of cardiovascular diseases among the young population, leading to sudden deaths. As heart diseases continue to be the leading cause of increasing mortality rates in India, it is crucial to prioritise cardiac screening and make it a part of routine health check-ups for all individuals, regardless of their medical history.

Heart disease presents a significant challenge in India due to a multitude of contributing factors, including:

Challenges in Managing Heart Disease in India

Several factors contribute to the high burden of CVDs in India:

1. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits:

• A poor diet characterised by a high intake of processed and high-fat foods, coupled with a low consumption of fruits and vegetables, contributes to the high burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• Lack of physical activity due to sedentary jobs and lack of awareness about the importance of exercise further exacerbates the risk of heart disease.
• Widespread use of tobacco and alcohol, particularly among the younger population, significantly increases the risk of developing heart conditions.

2. Genetic Predisposition:

• A family history of heart disease can significantly increase the likelihood of individuals developing cardiovascular conditions. Genetic predisposition plays a crucial role in the prevalence of heart disease in the Indian population.

3. Inadequate Healthcare Infrastructure:

• Limited access to healthcare services, especially in rural areas, hampers early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
• The shortage of cardiac specialists and lack of advanced medical facilities in many regions of India create barriers to timely intervention and management of heart conditions.

4. Prevalence of Risk Factors:

• High rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity significantly contribute to the burden of heart disease in India, with these risk factors being prevalent in both urban and rural populations.

5. Urbanisation and Sedentary Lifestyles:

• Urbanisation has led to increasingly sedentary lifestyles, with more people engaging in desk jobs and reduced physical activity.
• The youth are increasingly sleep-deprived due to a combination of urbanisation, academic and professional pressures, and the overuse of electronic gadgets, all of which have a negative impact on heart health.

These various factors collectively contribute to the high burden of heart disease in India, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to address and mitigate these challenges.

The Universal Importance of Cardiac Screening

Regular cardiac screening can transform lives by offering several key benefits:

1. Early Detection: Screening helps assess overall heart disease risk by considering factors like family history, lifestyle, and blood tests. Early detection of conditions like silent ischemia, arrhythmias, or heart valve problems allows timely treatment and significantly improves recovery chances.

2. Identification of Underlying Health Conditions: Screening can reveal conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea contributing to heart disease. Early intervention and management can prevent the development of heart disease and improve overall health.

3. Preventive Strategies: Based on risk assessments, specialists can recommend personalised prevention plans. These might include dietary changes, regular physical activity, smoking cessation support, and medication management. Identifying risk factors and making necessary lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the burden of heart disease.

4. Lifestyle Modifications: Knowing your risk profile can motivate you to adopt healthy habits. Early detection allows for appropriate treatment, which can prevent complications and reduce the risk of hospitalisation.

5. Empowerment through Knowledge: Understanding your heart health empowers you to take control of your well-being. Knowing your risk factors allows you to make informed decisions about lifestyle modifications and other necessary steps. Regular consultations, even remote ones, make a significant difference in managing these conditions.

Practical Tips for Maintaining Heart Health

Taking care of your heart doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some actionable tips:

• Healthy Diet: Adopting a heart-healthy diet involves more than just avoiding unhealthy foods; it’s about embracing nutrient-rich options that support overall cardiovascular health. Focus on incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables into your daily meals to ensure you get essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Whole grains, such as brown rice, oats, and quinoa, provide the fibre that helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and support digestive health. Lean proteins like fish, chicken, and legumes are excellent sources of nutrients without the excess saturated fats found in red meats. Healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil help reduce bad cholesterol levels and support heart function. Traditional Indian diets can be especially heart-healthy when they emphasise whole foods such as fresh produce, whole grains, and legumes while minimising the intake of processed and fried foods.

• Regular Exercise: Consistent physical activity is crucial for maintaining a healthy heart. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. This can be broken down into 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Brisk walking is a simple yet effective way to get your heart rate up and improve cardiovascular health. Yoga not only enhances flexibility and strength but also helps in stress reduction, which benefits heart health. Cycling is another excellent activity that strengthens the heart, lungs, and muscles while also improving overall stamina. The key is to find activities you enjoy so that you can stick with them long-term, making exercise a regular part of your routine.

• Stress Management: Chronic stress is a significant risk factor for heart disease, making effective stress management essential for heart health. Practice deep breathing exercises, which can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Meditation, especially mindfulness meditation, teaches you to focus on the present moment and manage stress more effectively. Yoga, with its combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, offers a holistic approach to stress management. By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can lower your stress levels, improve your mental health, and protect your heart from the damaging effects of chronic stress.

• Adequate Sleep: Getting enough quality sleep is vital for maintaining heart health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to allow your body to repair and regenerate. Poor sleep can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. Establish a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Create a restful sleep environment by keeping your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. Avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime, and develop a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading or taking a warm bath, to signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.

• Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking: Both alcohol and smoking have significant negative impacts on heart health. Reducing alcohol consumption to moderate levels—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men—can help protect your heart. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and even stroke. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your heart and overall health. Smoking damages the lining of your arteries, and leads to the buildup of fatty material (atheroma) which narrows the artery, and significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Seek support through counselling, nicotine replacement therapy, or prescription medications if needed to help you quit smoking for good.

• Regular Check-Ups: Routine health check-ups are crucial for early detection and prevention of heart disease. Schedule regular appointments with your healthcare provider to monitor your heart health through tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiograms (ECHOs), and blood tests. These tests can identify potential issues early, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Regular check-ups also provide an opportunity to discuss any symptoms or concerns you may have, ensuring that you receive the most appropriate care for your heart health needs. By staying proactive with your health check-ups, you can catch problems early and take steps to maintain a healthy heart.

Adding Ayurveda to Your Life for Heart Health

In the pursuit of heart health, incorporating Ayurveda into your daily routine offers a holistic and time-tested approach. Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, seeks to balance the body's three fundamental energies or doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. According to Ayurvedic principles, an imbalance in these energies can lead to various health complications, including cardiovascular diseases. By adopting Ayurvedic practices, we can address the root causes of heart problems and restore harmony in the body.

Ayurveda emphasises the importance of diet, lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies, and stress management to protect and nourish the heart. This approach not only helps in preventing diseases but also supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself. For heart health, Ayurveda focuses on balancing Pitta and Kapha doshas, which govern digestion, circulation, and metabolic processes. This can help in managing conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stress-related heart problems.

How Ayurveda Helps with Heart Health

Ayurvedic herbs such as Arjuna, Hibiscus, and Moringa are known for their cardiovascular benefits. These natural remedies improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, and support the health of the heart muscle. They also help in regulating cholesterol levels and controlling inflammation, which are crucial in preventing atherosclerosis and other heart conditions.

To bring the power of Ayurveda into your life, consider using these three heart-specific Ayurvedic products from Preserva Wellness:

Cardigold Juice: Cardigold Juice is a potent combination of heart-healthy Ayurvedic herbs and natural ingredients designed to support cardiovascular health. Its key ingredients include Aloe Vera, Beetroot, Lemon, Hibiscus, and Curcumin 95%, all known for their ability to reduce blood pressure and improve heart function.

• How It Works: The combination of Aloe Vera and Beetroot enhances blood flow and supports healthy blood pressure levels, while Hibiscus is known to lower cholesterol. Lemon adds a dose of vitamin C, which protects against oxidative stress. Curcumin 95%, the active compound in turmeric, acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory, reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Benefits: This vegan, plant-based juice not only helps in treating high blood pressure but also aids in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels naturally. Its daily consumption supports overall heart health, making it an ideal choice for those looking to manage cardiovascular issues without relying on synthetic medications.

Daily Heart Care Tea: Preserva Wellness' Daily Heart Care Tea is an antioxidant-rich tea, that promotes heart health through natural ingredients like Arjuna, Mulberry Leaves, Peach Fruit, Moringa, Green Tea Leaves, Hibiscus, and Cinnamon Powder.

• How It Works: Arjuna, a revered herb in Ayurveda, is known for strengthening the heart muscle and improving blood circulation. Mulberry leaves help regulate cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Moringa provides a rich supply of vitamins and minerals that support cardiovascular function. Green Tea and Hibiscus are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the heart from oxidative stress, while Cinnamon naturally supports healthy blood pressure.
• Benefits: This tea, when consumed regularly, can help reduce high blood pressure, improve circulation, and lower cholesterol levels. Its soothing and therapeutic properties make it a perfect daily addition to any heart health regimen. By supporting the body’s natural processes, it helps protect the heart from the daily stresses of modern life.

Cholestoblast Capsules: The vegan-friendly Cholestoblast Capsules are specially formulated to manage cholesterol and triglyceride levels while treating high blood pressure. They contain Curcumin 95% (Turmeric Extract) and Black Pepper, a combination that is scientifically proven to enhance heart health.

• How It Works: Curcumin 95% is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that works to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Black Pepper, with its bio-enhancing properties, helps increase the absorption of curcumin, making the formula highly effective.
• Benefits: This Ayurvedic remedy helps manage cholesterol and triglyceride levels without the side effects of conventional medicines. It is also effective in reducing high blood pressure and promoting overall cardiovascular wellness. Regular use of Cholestoblast Capsules provides a safe, natural way to maintain heart health, particularly for individuals at risk of hypercholesterolemia or hypertension.

Conclusion: Emphasize the Necessity of Cardiac Screening

Maintaining a healthy heart requires a proactive and comprehensive approach. By integrating Ayurvedic practices into your life, you can address the root causes of heart disease while promoting overall well-being. Ayurvedic herbs and natural products, such as Cardigold Juice, Daily Heart Care Tea, and Cholestoblast Capsules, offer powerful support for managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall cardiovascular health in a safe, holistic way. These remedies complement the lifestyle modifications needed to ensure long-term heart health.

However, while these natural methods are effective, they should be paired with regular cardiac screenings. Early detection of potential heart issues through screening can make a significant difference in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other severe complications. With the rise of lifestyle-related heart risks, everyone needs to include cardiac screening in their routine health check-ups.

By embracing both Ayurveda and modern preventive healthcare, you can reduce the risk of heart disease and enjoy a healthier, longer life. Prioritise your heart health today, and take the steps necessary for a better tomorrow.