India, July 15 -- "Getting your heart checked once a year is sufficient. There's no need to panic and visit hospitals out of fear," said Sharan Prakash Patil, Karnataka's minister for medical education on Tuesday.

"The average number of heart attack cases is similar to last year," Patil said, clarifying that there is no need to panic over the reportedly "increasing" cases of heart attacks.

"The government is taking appropriate measures," he affirmed.

Patil noted that after reports of a surge in heart attack cases in the state's Hassan district, patients have been swarming hospitals like the renowned Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, in Bengaluru.

"There has been a rise in people seeking preventive checks ...