Why Asian Indians are more prone to developing coronary artery disease than other groups?

By Navin Nanda, M.D.

Professor of Medicine and Director, Heart Station/Echocardiography Laboratories, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Although Dr. Navin Nanda is internationally famous as an expert and innovator in echocardiography, he has also done pioneering studies in coronary artery disease in Asian Indians right from the time he was a Medical Resident at Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. He is the Founding President of the American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin and Past President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. He is currently the President of the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound.

* Two facts stand out: 1) The incidence of coronary artery disease in Asian Indians is 2 to 5 times higher at all ages than Whites, African-Americans, Hispanics and other Asians. 2) It is 5 to 10 times higher in those younger than 40 years. This is not new. For example, my MD thesis from Bombay University prepared 44 years ago in 1966 was on heart attacks in patients under the age of 40 years.

03/19/11
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Heart disease more deadly for women than men

February 3, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and each year more women than men die from heart and cardiovascular disease without ever realizing they are at risk.

"After having a heart attack, a woman's chance of not surviving the first year or having another heart attack is greater than a man's," says University of Alabama at Birmingham cardiologist Alan Gertler, M.D. Preventing a heart attack, he says, is a critical objective.

Gertler says all women are at risk for heart disease, and the risk rises substantially as they age. "The incidence of heart disease among women overtakes men when they reach their late 50s, usually about five to 10 years after menopause," he says.

02/13/11
Headlines • Indian American • Health • MD Perspective •
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Processed food diet in early childhood may lower IQ

A diet, high in fats, sugars, and processed foods in early childhood may lower IQ, while a diet packed full of vitamins and nutrients may do the opposite, suggests research just published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The authors base their findings on participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (also known as Children of the 90s), which tracks the long term health and wellbeing of around 14,000 children born in 1991 and 1992.

Parents completed questionnaires, detailing the types and frequency of the foods and drinks their children consumed when they were 3, 4, 7 and 8.5 years old.

02/09/11
Headlines • Indian American • Health • MD Perspective •
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Understanding Cancer

Dr. Khaleel Ashraf is a practicing Oncologist in Birmingham, AL and is associated with Hematology and Oncology Associates of Alabama, LLC located in Brookwood Medical Plaza.

01/04/11
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Doctors prescribing what’s best for you?

11/24/10
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Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work

What Everyone Should Know and Do -
Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!

Are you aware that colds, flu, most sore throats, and bronchitis are caused by viruses? Did you know that antibiotics do not help fight viruses? It's true. Plus, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

10/31/10
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Clean Hands Save Lives

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. However, if soap and clean water are not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water or an alcohol-based product containing at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

10/31/10
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Health Precautions before travel to India

By N Rao Thotakura, M.D.

It is indeed exciting to visit India especially with your little ones to visit relatives and have fun. While you may be busy getting travel documents in order and complete shopping to take gifts or for your personal needs, please do not put off health preparations for you and your loved ones.

07/01/10
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Health Care Reform Bill - What It Means To Us

By Amit Chakrabarty, MD

May 1, 2010

If you haven't mastered the details on all 2,309 pages of the health care reform bill signed by President Obama, there's nothing wrong with you -- even experts are having a hard time getting a grip on all the details. So we've done the work for you. If you're going to take away just five things from the new legislation, here they are in a nutshell for you:

05/02/10
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Is it Possible to Prevent a Heart Attack?

Your Heart Matters!

Dr. Srinivas Vengala will take questions from our readers in this column for July 1 edition. Please send your questions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Our knowledge of heart disease, its causes and prevention, has dramatically improved in the last 20 years. Unfortunately the incidence is increasing in the younger population, while prevalence continues to be high in higher age groups.

05/01/10
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