Cardiologist suggests healthy lifestyle to curb spread of CVDs

Karachi
The country’s leading cardiologist has warned that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are spreading in Pakistan and called for “addressing behavioural risk factors for prevention.”
Dr Asad Pathan, director at the cardiac catheterisation laboratory and interventional cardiology at Tabba Heart Institute, was speaking at the 25th public awareness seminar on Wednesday.
The session was held at the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi with the theme, “Prevention for the Heart.”
Dr Pathan said CVDs are also major cause of death globally and they might damage different organs, including brain, leg and heart.
“According to the World Health Organisation an estimated 17.5 million people died from CVDs in 2012, representing 31 percent of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were due to stroke. Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors.”
The seminar was jointly organised by Dr Panjwani Center and Virtual Education Project Pakistan (VEPP).
Dr Pathan said that the most of the cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of Sheesha and Huqqa.
He stressed that heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease, are the leading cause of death for men and women in the world. “Prevention includes quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising,” he added.
He contended that contemporary medical science have rejected this myth that CVDs occured only in old age, adding “heart disease starts in the first or second decade of life and affects man and women equally.
The cardiologist said that out of the 16 million deaths under the age of 70 due to non-communicable diseases, 82 percent were in low and middle income countries and 37 percent caused by CVDs.
“The American Heart Association has identified “simple” steps you can take for a healthy heart. These steps include no smoking or quitting it; a healthy body mass index (BMI); physical activity, and the more the better, the new measure says at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise is necessary for ideal health, or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous physical activity; blood pressure below 120/80; fasting blood glucose less than 100 milligrams/decilitre; and eating a healthy diet,” he mentioned.
Around 50 percent CVDs related deaths are due to blood pressure, Dr Pathan said and advised the citizens to take preventive measures against them.