Mahwish Riaz*, 52 years old, was having mild chest pains for a couple of days but she dismissed it, thinking that gas was causing the pain. She started having breathing problems and also felt a little nauseous.
Mahwish Riaz*, 52 years old, was having mild chest pains for a couple of days but she dismissed it, thinking that gas was causing the pain. She started having breathing problems and also felt a little nauseous. After a few days, the pain became unbearable and her daughter rushed Mahwish to the hospital where she was admitted immediately. After conducting various tests, doctors said that Mahwish had Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). And the mild pains that she was experiencing and ignoring were actually angina attack that led to CHD.
Another example is of 46-year-old Zarina* who suffered a mild stroke. She was overweight and a patient of diabetes, but due to her ignorance her condition got worse. Instead of cutting on her sugar content, she used to indulge in desserts. Little did she know that both diabetes and her weight issues would cause a heart stroke.
These are just a few examples that have been cited above. In Pakistan, owing to the lack of awareness among people, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is on the rise. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart diseases and stroke, account for one-third of deaths throughout the world, according to a new scientific study that examined every country over the past 25 years. The research also showed that, in the year 2015, there were more than 400 million individuals living with CVD and nearly 18 million CVD deaths were reported worldwide.
According to the Global Atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and stroke, over 17.5 million deaths each year are caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Ischemic heart disease (e.g. heart attacks) is responsible for 7.3 million of the total CVD deaths and cerebrovascular disease (e.g. stroke) is responsible for 6.2 million of the total CVD deaths. This makes it the number one cause of death in the world today.
Situation in Pakistan
Journal of Pakistan Medical Association and National Health Survey shows that, Pakistani population has one of the highest risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the world. In Pakistan, around 30 to 40 per cent of all deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In Pakistan, about 200,000 people lose their lives to CHD per year - that is 410/100,000 of the population. Moreover, the survey highlighted the fact that children are also vulnerable. The risk for CVDs can begin before birth during foetal development, and increase further during childhood with exposure to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise.
Some of the major risk factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, stress, unhealthy diet and excessive use of tobacco and alcohol. The survey clearly shows that the more risk factors you have, the greater is the likelihood that you will suffer heart disease.
Cardiovascular diseases and women
Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women globally and over 7 million women die every year due to cardiovascular diseases? To know more about cardiovascular diseases in women, this week You! talks to Dr. Habib Soomro, former General Secretary, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA). Currently, Dr. Soomro runs his own private clinic in Karachi. "You must have heard that heart diseases usually affect men the most. That is somewhat true. However, one can't deny the fact that heart disease and stroke kill more women than all cancers, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria combined," says Dr. Soomro.
When asked about the most common cardiovascular disease in women, he states, "The most common is Myocardial Infarction (MI) - which literally means 'death of heart muscle'. In simple words, MI is also called heart attack."
Difference between angina & heart attack
A common symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD) is angina. But what is the difference between angina and heart attack? "Angina can also be called Cardiac pain. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs if an area of your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. It may even feel like indigestion. The pain tends to get worse with activity and goes away with rest. Emotional stress also can trigger the pain," explains Dr. Habib Soomro.
"We all know that the heart requires its own constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, like any muscle in the body. The heart has three coronary arteries, two of them large, branching arteries that deliver oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. If one of these arteries or branches becomes blocked suddenly, a portion of the heart is starved of oxygen, a condition called 'cardiac ischemia'. If cardiac ischemia lasts too long, the starved heart tissue dies. This is a heart attack, otherwise called a myocardial infarction," he adds.
Dr Soomro advises to consult a doctor as soon as one feels some kind of chest pain. "It is very important to seek professional help as in some cases there are no symptoms at all, but most heart attacks produce some chest pain, so be vigilant and don't ignore it."
CVD symptoms
According to Dr. Soomro, the most common CVD symptom in women is some sort of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. "Unlike men, women are more likely to have CVD symptoms unrelated to chest pain. Some common symptoms that women should look out for include pain in the neck, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, sweating, light headedness or dizziness and unusual fatigue. This might be due to the fact that women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries, but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart; this condition is called small vessel heart disease or micro-vascular disease."
Risk factors
90 per cent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Although, the traditional risk factors for CVD affect both women and men, other factors may play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women. For example:
Metabolic syndrome: A combination of fat around your abdomen, increased blood pressure, impaired blood sugar and high triglycerides has a greater influence on women than on men.
Mental stress and depression: This affects women's hearts more than men's. Depression makes it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so talk to your doctor if you're having those symptoms.
Diabetes: High blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels.
Obesity: Being overweight raises the risk of angina and heart diseases because obesity is associated with high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Keep CVD at bay:
“It is vital to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to stay away from various heart diseases. So, make sure to go for a balanced diet and include regular exercises or brisk walk in your daily routine,” concludes Dr Soomro.
*Names have been changed to retain privacy
About World Heart Day
World Heart Day was first observed in 2000 by World Health Federation to let people know that heart-related diseases can be prevented. World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29 around the globe, to raise awareness about various heart diseases. In May 2012, world leaders committed to reduce global mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. CVD is accountable for nearly half of all NCD deaths making it the world's number one killer. This year's theme for World Heart Day is 'Share the Power'. The theme revolves the idea that small changes can make a powerful difference. The main aim of observing this day is to improve heart health by encouraging people to make lifestyle changes and educate everyone about ways to be good to your heart.
