The demanding fast-paced lives of modern-day individuals have brought a number of complexities with them. Gujarat, in particular, has been a witness to a concerning rise in the issues of heart-health, registering a heart-related issue every seven minutes.
According to the data from the Emergency Management & Research Institute (EMRI), which provides 108 ambulance services in the state, a staggering 72,573 cases of heart-related problems were reported in the state in 2023.
Heart health – a serious problem in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of heart-related issues across Gujarat, with a whopping 21,496 cases in the past year.
Ahmedabad registered a 28% increase in such cases.
Meanwhile, 5,408 cases were reported in Surat, 4,910 in Rajkot, 3,739 in Bhavnagar, and 3,618 in Vadodara.
Across Gujarat, Rajkot has seen a significant spike in such cases of 41%, followed by 31% in Surat, 21% in Bhavnagar, and 28% in Vadodara and Ahmedabad.
Numbers show a sharp rise over the years
In 2017, there were 52,453 calls made regarding heart-related issues to the 108 emergency services, while this number increased to 53,700 in 2018.
It further shot up to 63,628 in 2019, 44,797 in 2020, 42,555 in 2021, and 56,777 in 2022, leading to a massive number in 2023.
Medical expert suggests remedies
Reflecting on the rising heart related issues, cardiac surgeon Dr Parag Sheth said that people’s lifestyles have changed, as well as fast food consumption has increased, which could be important factors behind this spike.
Dr Sheth adds that mental stress is also a responsible factor for the increasing heart-related problems. Even the young today suffer from heart attacks, so awareness regarding heart checkups has also increased among people.
“People have been volunteering to take up regular heart checkups, while doctors’ consultations are also being followed, which is a good sign,” he said.