Lucknow: The growing burden of premature heart disease among Indians was discussed at SGPGIMS, where cardiologists and physician-filmmakers explored the factors behind the rising risk among South Asians.At a session titled ‘A Heart-to-Heart Dialogue: Understanding the Asian Indian Heart’ on Sept. 8, KGMU alumni and physician-filmmakers Dr Nirmal Joshi and Dr Renu Joshi screened excerpts from their documentary, The Brown Heart. Based on medical research and more than 100 hours of interviews conducted across India, the UK and the US, the film examines why heart attacks are occurring earlier and often more severely among South Asians.Head of Cardiology Dr Aditya Kapoor said conversations around the Indian heart needed to happen “more often, more openly and much earlier”.SGPGIMS director Prof RK Dhiman said sedentary lifestyles, prolonged screen time, processed food, lack of exercise and stress were increasing cardiovascular risks among young people.The session emphasised the importance of early monitoring of blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, weight and waist circumference.
