Heart Failure Summit 2017: Alarming rise in heart diseases in India; symptoms, prevention

New Delhi: Amid alarming rise in the number of heart failure cases in India, the Heart Failure Summit 2017 was organised at a private hotel in Chandigarh on Sunday 30 July.

The main aim of the summit organised by Heart Foundation was to create awareness among the masses regarding the symptoms, precautions and treatment of cardiac arrest as well as details about heart failure management.

As per reports, about 250 cardiologists and eminent speakers from prestigious academic institutions from all over the region participated in the event, which includes deliberations aimed at enhancing awareness of heart disease in public and empowering doctors in managing patients of heart disease.

“Heart failure is growing at an alarming rate in India and has almost attained epidemic proportions. The estimated heart failure burden in India ranges from 1.3 million to 4.6 million cases per annum. The need of the hour is to disseminate awareness to the general public,” Dr HK Bali, chief patron of the Heart Foundation, was quoted as saying as he spoke on the occasion.

Dr Bali stressed that while there are new modalities in the armamentarium of physicians to treat these patients, diagnosis of disease at an early stage leads to better outcomes.

He said artificial heart is becoming popular in India even as newer medicines are also available that prolong and improve the quality of life.

At the event, a panel discussion on a new class of drugs - ARNI - for managing these patients was also held, with delegates actively participating in discussion and clarifying their doubts about new treatment options.

The Heart Foundation is a not-for-profit voluntary body dedicated to promote heart care, healthy living and to advance the knowledge amongst medical fraternity about the new advancements and information about various health and medical issues with specific reference to cardiac problems. The foundation has been constantly offering academic pursuits to young cardiologists all over India.

Heart failure, often referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart muscle is weakened and unable unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body's needs.

Do you know the symptoms of heart failure?

Signs and symptoms of heart failure commonly include shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, leg swelling, chronic coughing or wheezing, nausea or lack of appetite, high heart rtae, confusion or impaired thinking.

In case you have been diagnosed with with heart failure, it's important for you to manage and keep track of symptoms and report any sudden changes to your doctor.

Experts intended that heart failure is both preventable and treatable.

Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent heart failure is to control conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.