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One evening, about 15 years ago, we received word that a former neighbour and high school friend had suddenly succumbed to a heart attack. He was barely 30 at the time and the news came as a shock to everyone. His lifestyle had given no indication he was at any risk of heart disease. He may have been 15 to 20 pounds overweight and did like to enjoy a drink or two in the evenings. But he played hockey weekly and it would be hard for anyone who knew him to think he was under any kind of serious stress as he was an uncommonly laid-back person.
The shocking and sad news of his death made us all question how such a thing could happen to such a young man and why no one saw it coming. Back then, it wasn’t known that his South Asian ethnicity automatically put him at higher risk for heart disease. And while we took stock of our own lifestyles and started exercising a bit more and cutting down on some unhealthy foods, the changes lasted only a short time. It’s natural to believe something like that only happens to other people.
Today, evidence is overwhelming that South Asians are at greater risk than others for developing heart disease simply by virtue of our heritage. As such, we must be extra vigilant about leading a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, experts say awareness and education on the subject in our community are sorely lacking.
When we learned Dr. Arun Garg and Dr. Arun Chockalingam were organizing a landmark conference to get to the heart of cardiovascular disease in our community, we knew readers would find their mission of interest. Read about their initiative starting on page 48.
We also feature a story (see page 38) about a seemingly healthy young South Asian man who had no idea he was on the verge of a heart attack. You’ll also find expert advice on how we can all make our diet more heart friendly.
It is our sincere hope that you take these stories and advice to heart. With our hectic lives, making a choice to lead a healthier lifestyle — which means less stress, less fat, less salt, more fruits and vegetables and, yes, more exercise — isn’t an easy commitment to keep. But it may be the most important commitment of your life.
- Minto Vig, Rana Vig
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