GUWAHATI, Feb 13 � Heart disease have emerged as the number one killer disease in both urban and rural areas of the country � a team of cardiologists observed this at a press conference organized by Hayat Heart Centre, a unit of Hayat Hospital, Guwahati, recently.
�The largest ever study of deaths shows heart ailments to have replaced communicable diseases as the biggest killer in rural and urban areas. The results are surprising because they indicate a reversal in disease patterns in the country from communicable disease to non-communicable disease or lifestyle disease,� Dr Sasanka Baruah, chief consultant, said.
About 25 per cent of deaths in the age group of 25-69 years occur because of heart disease. But the rate may increase as India lacks authentic data on the causes of death.
Hayat Hospital which last year inaugurated the Hayat Heart centre as an integral part of the hospital on Saturday started its �Cardiac Arrhythmia Clinic� � the first cardiac arrhythmia clinic in the North-east. Electrophysiological study and radio frequency catheter ablation, etc., facilities will be available in the clinic.
Dr Baruah said that the clinic would commence from February 16 under the guidance of Dr Balbir Singh, a pioneer cardiologist in electrophysiology and former cardiologist from AIIMS.
Dr Balbir Singh said that arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. �During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs,� he said, adding that even serious arrhythmias can often be successfully treated.
