11 hours ago
‘New medicines help reverse heart failure in 1 of 4 patients'
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Nagpur: New medicines are proving so effective that in about 25% of patients battling heart failure, the heart's pumping power can be restored to normal.
"Heart failure is no longer a hopeless condition.
With newer medicines, around a quarter of heart failure cases are reversible. This means the heart's pumping capacity can be regained.
Moreover, in about 50% of patients, we can now control heart failure very effectively," said Dr JC Mohan, a leading cardiologist in India and key speaker at the Annual ECHO Nagpur 2025 Conference.
Dr Mohan explained that heart failure is different from a heart attack. A heart attack is a sudden event in which a blockage cuts off the blood supply to the heart muscles.
Heart failure, on the other hand, develops over time when the heart's ability to pump blood becomes weak, making it hard for the body to get enough oxygen.
"Nearly 1% of India's adult population — about one crore people — are living with heart failure. Unfortunately, it has a worse outcome than many cancers because it often goes unrecognised, underestimated, and untreated," Dr Mohan said. He cautioned that people with diabetes and high blood pressure are at higher risk and urged early detection through regular check-ups.
"With modern medicines, patients can live six to eight years longer than before. The key is early diagnosis and proper treatment. Simple tests like an ECHO (heart ultrasound), ECG, and certain blood tests help us detect heart failure early and start treatment before it's too late," Dr Mohan added.
Dr Vinod Vijan, former president of Lipid Association of India, also shared crucial advice: "Indians should aim for cholesterol levels at least 10 points lower than global standard values because we are genetically more prone to heart diseases," he said.
Dr Shantanu Sengupta, programme director for ECHO Nagpur 2025, said the past two decades have witnessed a big change in people's awareness. "This is the 21st year of ECHO in Nagpur, and today, common people know about it. ECHO has become as routine as ECG for diagnosing heart problems. 2D and 3D ECHO tests are giving doctors excellent information to detect heart diseases early. Everyone above 40 years should include ECHO in their regular health check-ups," Dr Sengupta recommended.
About Heart Failure
- Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump blood strongly enough to meet the body's needs
- It's different from a heart attack, which is a sudden blockage in heart blood flow
- Nearly 1 crore people in India live with heart failure, often undiagnosed
- The prognosis is serious—worse than many cancers
- New medicines can reverse heart failure in about 25% of patients, restoring heart pumping power
