Heart ailments not just occupational, but lifestyle related: Jayadeva director
'Fixing working hours is essential so people can invest time in their own health,' he said, adding that environmental triggers like air pollution are now emerging as possible contributors and are under close scientific scrutiny.
Citing the InterHeart study, Dr Ravindranath said these included abnormal blood lipids, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, alcohol use and psychosocial stress.
As per the study, of all the nine factors, psychosocial stress emerged as a significant and often underestimated contributor, nearly tripling the risk of heart attacks. The study assessed stress from factors like work, home, financial pressure and major life events, showing that emotional wellbeing plays a major role in heart health.
'While traditional clinical focus was often on smoking and cholesterol, attention is now on emerging lifestyle-related risks like chronic stress and central obesity. Now even air pollution and other components are emerging as risk factors; we are studying the patterns currently,' the director said.
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
After spate of deaths in Hassan, govt to screen auto and cab drivers for heart disease
Bengaluru: In the wake of a spate of sudden deaths in Hassan district, the govt plans to screen auto and cab drivers for heart ailments and also train students, teachers, and gym trainers in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the legislative assembly Thursday that the measures were in line with recommendations from a state-appointed panel led by Dr KS Ravindranath, director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. Between May and June this year, 36 people — most under 45 — died mostly of heart attacks in Hassan district, triggering public alarm and speculation over a possible link to Covid-19 vaccines. About 30% of the victims were auto and cab drivers. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru The govt formed a committee headed by Dr Ravindranath to study cases. Its report submitted in July found most deaths were due to heart ailments caused by sedentary lifestyles, stress, and pollution and had nothing to do with the Covid-19 vaccines. "According to the Dr Ravindranath panel report, more than 75% victims were suffering from multiple heart ailments, mainly because of lifestyle, obesity, smoking or alcohol addiction and comorbidities such as diabetes and high blood pressure," Rao said, responding to a question from senior JD(S) member HD Revanna from Holenarasipura. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "We will launch an awareness campaign and target those vulnerable including auto and cab drivers and students. " He said the govt is also considering upgrading Hassan district hospital and setting up a cath lab at an estimated cost of Rs 9.4 crore. "The awareness campaign to prevent heart ailments will not be limited to Hassan. We plan to cover the entire state. Since it is related to lifestyle, we should treat it as a social scourge and respond accordingly to eradicate it," Rao said. Opposition leader R Ashoka had flagged the lack of cardiac treatment facilities in Hassan, forcing patients to travel four hours to Bengaluru or three hours to Mysuru. Rao said the govt will work to improve facilities in all districts, including ensuring ECG and emergency cardiac machines in all PHCs and CHCs. The report into sudden deaths in Hassan examined 24 cases from May and June 2025. Of these, 10 were confirmed as cardiac deaths, 10 were probable, and four were due to non-cardiac causes. The report found no unusual spike and no link to Covid-19 vaccines, with obesity, alcohol use, diabetes, and hypertension emerging as common risk factors. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Heart ailments not just occupational, but lifestyle related: Jayadeva director
Dr Ravindranath had headed the state government-appointed committee that investigated the spate of sudden deaths due to suspected heart attacks in Hassan district during May and June this year. 'Fixing working hours is essential so people can invest time in their own health,' he said, adding that environmental triggers like air pollution are now emerging as possible contributors and are under close scientific scrutiny. Citing the InterHeart study, Dr Ravindranath said these included abnormal blood lipids, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, alcohol use and psychosocial stress. As per the study, of all the nine factors, psychosocial stress emerged as a significant and often underestimated contributor, nearly tripling the risk of heart attacks. The study assessed stress from factors like work, home, financial pressure and major life events, showing that emotional wellbeing plays a major role in heart health. 'While traditional clinical focus was often on smoking and cholesterol, attention is now on emerging lifestyle-related risks like chronic stress and central obesity. Now even air pollution and other components are emerging as risk factors; we are studying the patterns currently,' the director said.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- The Hindu
Jayadeva's Premature Coronary Artery Disease registry shows over 24% of patients aged below 40 are drivers
The vulnerability of autorickshaw and cab drivers to cardiovascular diseases is not a new trend observed in the sudden heart attack deaths sample in Hassan district, say doctors. Director of State-run Sri Jaydeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, K.S. Ravindranath, who headed the expert committee that investigated the perceived surge in sudden heart attack deaths in Hassan district, said it was not surprising to find six (25%) of the 24 deceased to be auto and cab drivers in the sample and it had been flagged by earlier studies too. He pointed out that data from the Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD) registry maintained at Jayadeva since 2017 shows that 24.25% (975) of 4,020 young heart attack patients (aged below 40) screened so far are drivers with multiple risk factors. While 72.9% of these 975 drivers are smokers, 7.10% have diabetes, 8.3% have hypertension, 10.5% have obesity and 13.7% have a family history of cardiovascular diseases, data shows. Dr. Ravindranath, who pointed out that autorickshaw and cab drivers are emerging as a highly vulnerable group for cardiovascular diseases, attributed the alarming trend to a combination of occupational stress and lifestyle risk factors. 'While prolonged exposure to air and noise pollution and driving through traffic gridlocks is itself stressful, long working hours and prolonged sitting, irregular food habits, often reliant on roadside, processed foods, erratic sleeping pattern and high rates of smoking and alcohol use are adding to the problem,' Dr. Ravindranath told The Hindu on Friday. Among bus drivers He said similar trends were observed among drivers at Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), who are undergoing screening at the institute in batches since 2022. An analysis of 7,635 employees, majority of whom are drivers aged 45-60 years, evaluated at the institute since August 10, 2022, has revealed that over 40% of them were vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. Besides, around 4% of them had an established heart disease, the doctor said. 'Our data shows that 27% of the drivers screened had diabetes, 25% hypertension, 62% obesity and around 1% had a family history. While 22% were smokers, 25% consumed alcohol,' he said. Similarly, around 10,000 KSRTC employees have been screened at the institute in the last three years. 'Of these, about 50% are drivers, and the percentage of risk factors is almost the same as BMTC drivers. However, smoking habits are comparatively less common among KSRTC drivers compared to BMTC drivers, as the former drive long-distance trips,' Dr. Ravindranath said. High risk Former Jayadeva director and Bengaluru Rural MP C.N. Manjunath, during whose tenure BMTC had signed an agreement with the cardiac institute for screening its employees, said that with nearly 40% of them having diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, the risk of them developing cardiovascular diseases in the future is high. 'Mandatory periodic and annual health checks are essential for these employees to ensure early intervention. Proper and early risk factor and lifestyle management is the key to prevent cardiovascular problems,' the doctor said. 'Most of the employees had not gotten themselves tested before and were surprised by the diagnosis of diabetes and high blood pressure. Due to the nature of their work, their stress levels are high. They have no time to exercise, and their eating habits are erratic due to continuous driving, overwork, and night duties. Most of all, their exposure to pollution throughout their work (both from the engine and atmosphere) is very risky,' he explained. Need for screening Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said health screenings for auto and cab drivers will be taken up. 'We will discuss this alarming trend with the drivers' association and start screening them for cardiovascular diseases,' he said.
