78000 infants die of congenital heart disease in India every year, say doctors

About 78,000 infants born with congenital heart disease in India die every year because of inadequate health care facilities in the country, experts said. “Every year 1.5 lakh infants are born in India with congenital heart disease,” Dr Murtaza Chisti, chief cardiac surgeon of the Mahatma Gandhi Cardiac and Critical Care Centre told reporters after conducting a medical camp here today.
Due to lack of awareness, cases of congenital heart disease are on the rise in the country. “Work-related tension coupled with lifestyle changes of young people and people in age group of 30 to 40 years make them susceptible to heart attacks,” he said. “A controlled diet with minimal fatty and non-vegetarian food, non-consumption of sweets, coupled with adequate rest could reduce the incidence of heart problems, he said, adding that diabetes, high blood pressure, mental tension, increase in cholesterol were contributory causes for heart attacks.
Dr ML Swarankar, chairman of the India Education Trust, said that India had the dubious distinction of having the largest number of deaths in Asia owing to heart attack. More and well-equipped cardiac centres were needed to bring down the number, he added.
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