61 per cent urban women at risk of heart diseases

Due to change in lifestyle and food habits, more than 60 per cent of women in urban India are at risk of heart diseases, according to a study released today.
Conducted in top ten cities of India, the survey analysed risk factors causing heart diseases in around 1300 urban Indian females in the age group 30-45 years.
The study, released a day ahead of the World Heart Day, said 61 per cent of such women are at risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Of them, 74 per cent women who are at risk also have pot belly and a broad waistline while 86 per cent of them have a high BMI (body mass index), the 'Saffola Life' survey said.

Kunal Sarkar, senior consultant Cardiac Surgeon of Medica Superspecialty Hospital, said cardiovascular diseases in women are slowly gaining epidemic proportions because of changing food habits and unhealthy food choices, such as increased intake of food like cheese, food rich in trans fats and late dinners.
"All this leads of increased abdominal obesity and increased waist-to-hip ratio, a major risk factor for heart diseases," he said.
In addition, smoking, low levels of physical activity, diabetes, high BP and other lifestyle factors are responsible for fat redistribution in women while accelerating their risk of cardiac disorders, he said.