People who exhibit one or more of these behaviours like lack of sleep, stress, sedentary liftstyle, skipping meals and belly fat are at heart risk, Saffolalife said in its flagship study report ‘ on commonly ignored lifestyle habits and their high correlation to heart health risk’, released in Hyderabad on 25th September on World Heart Day.

To create greater awareness regarding these lifestyle habits that lead to heart risk, Saffolalife commissioned a survey which was conducted by Nielsen covering 1226 respondents across key capital cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. This year on World Heart Day, Saffolalife study is aimed at driving awareness of the impact of small habits that we fail to acknowledge, on the health of our hearts.

India is seeing a shift from communicable disease to lifestyle or non-communicable disease (NCDs) , high in the country, the study said and addrf over 61 per cent Indians are affecting by lifestyle or NCDs. Commenting on the findings of the study, Virinchi Hospital Cardiologist Consultant Dr Vasu said amongst all the three cities and considering people who exhibit one or more of these lifestyle behaviours, Hyderabad witnessing the lowest incidence of heart risk.

Across the three cities, 57 per cent of people aged 30-40 years, who are stressed are at heart risk and this number increases to 71 per cent in the age group of 41-55 years, he said 88 per cent of men and women in Hyderabad, who have belly fat and are at heart risk and not even consider it as a top 3 risk factor. In the study it was found that more stress level in Mumbai compared to Hyderabad and more obesity in Delhi , Dr Vasu cautioned that using mobile phones also involved stress.

Watching fish in aquarium, yoga and meditation would decrease stress level, he informed. Some of the startling facts from the study revolve around the growing incidence of heart risk amongst those who are stressed or get inadequate sleep, he also said our lifestyle habits can have a fundamental impact on our heart health. The Saffolalife study stated that 88 per cent of Hyderabadis who do not exercise regularly and are at heart risk, do not even consider lack of exercise among the top 3 heart risk factors. This study is a wake-up call for us to take proactive steps towards heart health in order to ensure overall body health, Dr Vasu added.

Speaking on the occasion, Nutritionist Sujatha Stephen said, that most of us are guilty of ignoring one or more of these small lifestyle behaviours that can have massive impact on our hearts. Making small, positive changes in our regular lifestyle like eating right, sleeping well, regularly exercising and keeping a track of our belly fat can greatly reduce the risk to our heart. While there are multiple causes that leads to an increased heart risk, it is important to be aware about these small factors and make lifestyle changes to be more heart healthy, she said.

Healthy breakfast and early breakfast can be prevented from obesity , the Nutritionist added. This year on World Heart Day, Saffolalife study is aimed at driving awareness of the impact of small habits that we fail to acknowledge, on the health of our hearts.