40,000 babies in Pakistan born with congenital heart diseases every year

Islamabad

Heart disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults but can be more challenging in children. Around 40,000 infants in Pakistan are born with congenital heart diseases (CHD) every year and 15,000 of them might need treatment in the first year of life.

Consultant paediatric cardiologist at Shifa International Hospital (SIH) Dr. Zaheer Ahmad shared these data at a seminar organized Thursday to mark World Heart Day. Doctors, medical students, patients and people from various walks of life attended the seminar. Free consultancy and screening services, as well as booklets and prizes were given away to the participants.

Dr. Zaheer said, viral infections during the first three months of pregnancy, diabetes, and the use of certain medicines can increase the risk of having a baby with a heart condition. Some congenital heart defects are genetic. Some of the key symptoms of heart disease in children include rapid breathing, bluish skin, lips, and nails, fatigue or difficulty feeding, poor weight gain, and sweating, especially while feeding.

Dr. Zaheer stated that ‘Atherosclerosis’ increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack and stroke. It is unusual for children or teenagers to have a heart attack or stroke as a result of atherosclerosis. In some children, atherosclerosis worsens rapidly, increasing the risk of heart disease. Screening for cholesterol problems is recommended once for children aged 9 to 11 years and again at ages 17 to 21 years, he advised.

“Heart disease in children is not uncommon. However, with early recognition of symptoms, many successful treatment options are available for children. Keep good dental hygiene, and raise awareness, was the take-home message disseminated by Dr. Zaheer.

Consultant cardiologist and head of the Cardiology Department at SIH Dr. Asad Ali Saleem said, heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death among adults aged between 40 to 60 years. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are amongst the greatest public health challenges around the globe. Heart diseases are very common, costly, disabling and deadly. People must get their heart checkup regularly in order to avoid possible heart diseases, he said.

Dr. Asad emphasized the need to keep one’s blood cholesterol level under control. He said, a specific amount of cholesterol is essential for the human body but when it exceeds the required level, it creates plaque. “This plaque is called atherosclerotic plaque, which narrows the arteries, obstructs smooth blood flow, and causes clotting of blood, which can cause heart attack” he informed the audience.

Consultant cardiologist at SIH Dr. Saeedullah Shah advised people to cut down calories from food and adopt a more active lifestyle so that they can prevent cardiovascular and other diseases including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart failure, heart attack, obesity, and diabetes. “Cardiovascular disease is caused by disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure,” he stated, urging smokers to quit smoking to prevent CVDs.

Dr Shah advised the participants to achieve energy balance and a healthy weight, limit energy intake from total fats, and shift fat consumption from saturated to non-saturated fats. He also advised them to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, pulses, whole grains and nuts, to limit the intake of free sugars and salt, and to ensure that salt is iodized.