Asian Indians around the globe have the highest rate of coronary artery disease (CAD) despite the fact that nearly half of them are lifelong vegetarians. The death rates from CAD among overseas Asian Indians have been 50% to 300% higher than Americans, Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese, irrespective of gender, religion, or social class. Among those younger than 30 years of age, the CAD mortality among Asian Indians is 3-fold higher than Whites in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and 10-fold higher than Chinese in Singapore. The term Asian Indian refers to all those who trace their origin to the four countries in the Indian continent - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

India is now in the middle of a CAD epidemic with over 10% of urban Indians having CAD, a rate similar to overseas Indians. During the past 3 decades, the average age of a first heart attack increased by 10 years in the U.S., but decreased by 10 years in India. About 50% of all heart attacks among Asian Indian men occur under the age of 55 and 25% under the age of 40, unheard of in any other population. These data underscore the need for early, aggressive, and unconventional approaches for the prevention and treatment of CAD in this population.

CAD is highly predictable, preventable, and treatable. Over the past 30 years, CAD rates in most developed countries declined by 50%. During the same period, the CAD rates doubled in India. Indians are in double jeopardy from nature and nurture - nature having been provided by higher levels of lipoprotein(a), and nurture through an unhealthy lifestyle associated with affluence, urbanization, and mechanization. Because of this genetic susceptibility, the adverse effects of conventional risk factors related to adverse lifestyle such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are markedly magnified. For example, the overall rate of CAD doubled in Singapore in the last 30 years due to changes in diet and lifestyle. But the 3-fold difference in CAD rates between Indians and Chinese was maintained. It appears that the increase in CAD risk from a weight gain of 10 pounds or smoking 10 cigarettes (or beedi) by Indians is similar to a 30 pound weight gain or smoking 30 cigarettes by other populations.

Although the conventional risk factors do not fully explain the excess burden of CAD, these risk factors are doubly important in Indians, and remain the principal targets for prevention and treatment. Early adoption of daily exercise and avoiding tobacco use is crucial. Watching the saturated fat intake and waist size is as, if not more, important than watching cholesterol intake and body weight. A waist circumference of >80 cms (32 inches) in women and >90 cms (36 inches) in men is a powerful predictor of future development of diabetes and CAD, and warrants redoubling the exercise regimen and cutting down on calories.

The above information is provided by CadiResearch. Dr. Enas A. Enas, Founder of Cadiresearch has done lots of research in this area and is one of the foremost figures in raising the awareness for CAD among Asian Indians Worldwide.

Desi-Fitness.com offers various exercise programs and resources to reduce your risk for CAD. Strength training, cardio workout and healthy diet and nutrition are key ways to reduce your risk of contracting CAD.

Please consult your Physician before beginning this or any other workout.