Indians are more prone for ischemic heart disease. In addition, heart disease sometimes can run in families. Family history means having a father or brother who had heart disease before 55, or a mother or sister who had heart disease before 65. Since we cannot choose our parents or siblings, we cannot wish away family history.
Even if one has uncontrollable risk factors, it doesn't mean that one should reconcile oneself to fate or destiny and keep quiet. One can minimize risk by learning about controllable risk factors and controlling them. But most people don’t do it because they think that heart disease always happens to some one else, until it happens to them. It is also perhaps because they don’t feel or see heart disease, which is a gradual, life-long process.
Because of breathtaking advances in medicine and technology, people with heart disease are living longer and leading more productive lives. We can prevent the progression of the disease or the occurrence of clinically significant disease with modern treatments. Yet, prevention of heart disease is any day preferable to its medical and surgical management.
Modifiable risk factors
You should, however, appreciate that even if you do all the right things suggested here, you may not be totally immune from heart disease. But by making certain lifestyle changes, you can ward off heart disease for years or minimize its havoc.
Following are the modifiable risk factors:
Know Your Heart
