Avoid heart disease by following healthy diet: Expert

t least 80 per cent of deaths due to heart disease and stroke could be avoided by following a healthy diet, a renowned cardiac consultant said.

"By 2015 almost 20 million people in the world will die due to cardiovascular disease. At least 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided through a healthy diet and a change in lifestyle," Dr Rony Mathew, Consultant and Head of Department of Interventioal Cardiology, Lisie Heart Institute and Hospital here said.

"Most people spend about 60 per cent of their day at work, so health choices in the workplace are critical for overall wellness," Dr Jacob Joseph, a Cardiac Consultant, said.

"A diet low in saturated fat and rich in fruits and vegetables combined with regular physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease," Dr Jabir Abdullah Kutty, a Cardiac Consultant, Lisie Heart Institute said.

Creating awareness among the people on the need of a "healthy heart", various programmes were planned by hospitals in the city on the 'World Heart Day', which is annually held on the last Sunday in September.

The advances in treatment methods in cardiology are worth appreciated, but equal importance should be given to the preventive aspects too, Dr Jose Chacko, Chairman, Heart Care Foundation, said.