Bindukumar Kansupada, an Indian-American cardiologist, emphasized during an interaction with New India Abroad that Indians in the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand have a significantly higher incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“Part of the reason for this is that we immigrants tend to go less for preventive healthcare compared to what is required,” he explained. “We have noted over the last 50 years the prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the Southeast Asian population in the US, UK, Canada, etc. is significantly higher.”
“It happens at a younger age. Indians tend to get a heart attack at a much younger age, almost 10 years younger than Caucasians. Diabetes also has a very high prevalence,” Kansupada added.
He highlighted that there is a high prevalence of diabetes among Southeast Asian Indians, contributing to the global increase in diabetes cases, including in developing countries like India. By 2045, it is projected that one in every four individuals in urban areas of India will have diabetes, amounting to approximately 125 million people.
Kansupada is the vice chairman of the Health Council of the WHEELS Global Foundation, a philanthropic initiative to drive transformation. He said that the organization aims to spread awareness about health issues globally, leveraging the contributions of people willing to share their knowledge, time, and resources and initiating efforts to impact rural development in India through technology-driven media and telehealth.
“Within the next five years, our first objective is to get awareness regarding NCD and mental health,” he said.
Kansupada also emphasized that the government should play a crucial role in promoting health by supporting natural living and facilitating access to organic and natural foods. It should uphold traditional values of respecting parents, teachers, and guests (Matru Deo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Guru Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava). Additionally, the government should invest in education and research to understand and highlight the benefits of natural living and organic diets.
Kansupada is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology. He holds fellowships with the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.
He earned his MBBS degree from Topiwala Medical College, Mumbai University, and completed his post-graduate training in invasive and noninvasive cardiology, as well as electrophysiology, at the Medical College of Pennsylvania (Drexel University Medical School).
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