IIT Mandi

New Delhi: Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have carried out studies to determine the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in adults in India.

According to a statement from IIT Mandi, the researchers examined data from more than 59,000 adults in India's rural and urban areas who are of 45 years of age or older. Dr. Ramna Thakur, an associate professor in the school of humanities and social sciences at IIT Mandi, and the study assistants Gayathri and Sujata are co-authors of the paper.

The research, which was published in the Journal Science Direct, titled 'Current problems in cardiology (Elsevier)- Impact factor: 16.464', suggested that the older people in India are more vulnerable to physiological risk than to genetic, indoor environmental, or behavioural risk factors. 

The majority of Indians live in rural regions where they are exposed to the harmful smoke produced when unclean fuels burned for cooking and other reasons. The statement revealed that passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke exposure, is thought to have identical cardiovascular effects and risks to active smoking. 

The research shed light on the approaches that can be taken to prevent the onset of CVDs in older adults such as encouraging the use of cleaner and greener technologies such as liquified petroleum gas, solar, electricity, and biogas in order to decrease indoor air pollution and protect public health. In addition, adults in middle and later life can benefit from moderate physical exercise.

Moreover, the research also highlighted other risk factors for CVDs that are prevalent in older people, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, and inactivity. The research found that fast food culture, urbanization, and people's sedentary lifestyles all contribute to the problem of CVD among adults.

Participating in light to moderate physical exercise in middle or older age will significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality.

As per the researchers, the programs that raise people's knowledge of the risks associated with alcohol and tobacco use may also be a useful way to discourage those behaviours and lower the likelihood that they will develop CVDs. 

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