World Heart Day seminar: Keeping the heart healthy

Physicians and health experts talk about the importance of balanced lifestyles.

ISLAMABAD:

In a country where diet management is rarely prioritised, cardiac experts have dubbed cardiac diseases to be the “greatest public health challenge of the time.” Cardiac diseases such as atherosclerosis are gradually affecting more lives in Pakistan. This was discussed at a seminar in observance of World Heart Day held at Shifa International Hospital on Tuesday. They said that considering the increasing incidence of the disease in the country, experts are emphasising on an immediate preventive strategy to control heart disease on a national level.

Surgery is a convenient option in most cases, but unfortunately in Pakistan, the trend is limited as people fear that it may cause death, they added.

Shifa International Hospital Cardiology Division Head Dr Habibur Rahman described atherosclerosis as a disease in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol.

(Read: Heart attack - Men at a higher risk than women)

He stressed on the need to ensure that blood cholesterol levels are controlled by patients. When cholesterol exceeds the safe level, it creates atherosclerotic plaque. The additional cholesterol results in producing atherosclerotic plaque that narrows the arteries. The plaque blocks smooth blood flow and causes clotting of blood in the artery.

“It is a serious condition, which disturbs blood flow and results in heart attacks,” he said.  He was of the view that patients should regularly consult physicians and get diet plans for keeping their cholesterol and blood pressure under control.

Lifestyles have changed, he said, attributing sedentary routines to the influx of technology. “People prefer eating junk food and sitting in front of the computer all day.” Due to illiteracy and lack of awareness, people rely more on homemade remedies to tackle their cardiac problems, which may have adverse affects. “People should regularly get their hearts checked to avoid possible heart diseases,” Dr Rehman stressed.

“If one has diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smokes, or has minimal physical activity and excessive salt intake, they are at high risk. It is essential to modify lifestyles and dietary habits in order to avoid serious complications,” he said. He suggested that one should be wary of consuming fats and salt, as they are the two main causes of increasing cholesterol level and blood pressure. Consultant Cardiac Surgeon Dr Tauqeer Akbar, while giving a presentation on new technology in cardiac surgery, said that with the current drive to minimise access and the size of surgical incisions, there have been new advances in cardiac surgery where the cardiac surgeon performs the operation using endoscopic technology.

Moreover, robotic cardiac surgery is becoming more and more common in the world. “It is currently not available in Pakistan, but it is going to be introduced in the not-so-distant future. Minimal access and the size of surgical incisions is becoming popular in the region due to its unique advantages,” he said. Senior consultants, physicians, surgeons, postgraduate trainees, medical students, patients and people from all walks of life were also present at the seminar.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2011.