PGI has called upon the community to come forward and join the health initiative themed as ‘Stop The Attack Before It Strikes’ aimed at combating the rising burden of heart disease in India. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the country with a sharp increase among younger adults and women. However, PGI has recognised that nearly 80 per cent of these conditions are preventable through lifestyle modification.

The health initiative draws its inspiration from PGI’s Preventive Clinic. The clinic was established a year ago in the Department of Cardiology to address the widespread and growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

The clinic operates every Wednesday and Saturday, and is run by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Neelam Dahiya. It primarily targets individuals aged between 18 and 40 years, aiming to intervene early in order to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.

The clinic provides tailored lifestyle guidance after each participant undergoes detailed dietary evaluation, psychological assessment and blood investigations.

However, the Preventive Clinic faces substantial challenges despite its impact. Public health awareness remains low, and the compliance among enrolled individuals is limited. Out of approximately 450 subjects evaluated so far, only a few completed all the recommended assessments. Among them, 320 were overweight or obese and 92 were hypertensive, with nearly half having uncontrolled blood pressure. Most participants also reported minimal physical activity or recreational engagement. In addition, infrastructural constraints, limited visibility and the heavy workload add to the difficulties.

Dr Dahiya noted these cases underscores the pressing need for improved physical activity and healthier lifestyles. “The team remains committed, drawing motivation from each individual who succeeds in improving their lifestyle.”

Looking ahead, however, PGI aims to strengthen preventive outreach through streamlined registration processes, improved diagnostics pathways and additional community-based engagement.

“Preventing a heart attack begins long before any symptoms appear. Every positive step — whether improving your diet, increasing physical activity or undergoing timely screening — brings you closer to a healthier future. Even if ten people improve their lifestyle because of our efforts, it is a success worth pursuing,” says Dr. Dahiya, stressing the critical importance of timely treatment. Presenting data from the clinic, she revealed that 8 per cent of attendees were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while 22 per cent were newly detected hypertensive patients.

To promote practical wellness, the clinic’s instructors encourage participants to incorporate simple physical exercises along with yoga practices such as Y-break and Surya Namaskar into their lives.

Dr Nancy Sahni, Chief Dietician (PGI), talked about the importance of shifting to mindful dietary habits and balanced nutrition to prevent non-communicable diseases.