Globally, heart disease has become the number one killer. The sad part is while the disease burden is decreasing in developed countries, it is on the rise in developing countries like Nepal. Even though lot of progress has taken place in the medical field in the last ten years in Nepal, yet we are not in a position to handle this epidemic of heart disease. Many patients come suddenly with heart attacks and if the treatment is not done on time, they may damage their heart severely.
Few hospitals in Nepal have facilities to treat heart patients and only a small percentage of our population can afford the treatment. Thus, all the efforts to raise the awareness about this disease is a worth effort.
The World Heart Federation (WHD) is the world´s global body dedicated to the fight against heart diseases and strokes. There are almost 200 member organizations that bring together the strength of medical societies and heart foundations, from more than 100 countries. Earlier the event was organized on the last Sunday of every September month. From this year onwards, the date is now fixed for September 29.
This year the slogan is “One World One Home One Heart ". Basically, it highlights the need of efforts at all the levels.
One World
Heart disease causes about 30 percent of all deaths globally each year, making it the world’s number one killer. Many international organizations all over the world are working with the aim of handling this situation. Word Health Organization, WHD and United Nations have various programs especially in the developing countries with more and more priority.
One Home
However, it is important that individuals themselves make efforts to be free from heart diseases. We all can help by learning about the risk factors causing heart attacks and taking simple steps to reduce our and our family’s risk.
As a hub for family activities, and as a focal point in everyone’s life, the household is the perfect place to start taking action to improve heart health. That is why this year, for World Heart Day, the WHD and its members are focusing their efforts on the home. By adapting a few household behaviors, people all over the world can have longer and better lives through the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke. This year, on World Heart Day, the WHD and its members request you to take charge of your family’s heart health and become your home’s advocate for heart-healthy living.
WHF has identified four action plans that we and our family can take:
Ban tobacco from our home. Use of tobacco in any form is bad for heart. One fifth of heart related deaths worldwide can be avoided simply by banning the use of tobacco. It takes almost 15 years before the risk becomes the same as someone who never smoked. Thus we need to stop smoking as soon as possible.
Keep lot of healthy food options at home. A healthy diet is one that has less of red meat and dairy products and more of vegetables and fruits. Start the day with a piece of fruit or prepare your own lunch at home to ensure healthy options are taken to work or school. Make sure every evening meal contains at least two to three servings of vegetables per person.
Be active. Just 30 or 40 minutes of exercises every day will do a lot to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Families should limit the amount of time spent in front of the TV to less than two hours per day. Organize outdoor activities for the family, such as cycling or hiking trips, or simply playing in the garden /terrace. When possible, instead of using the car, take your bicycle or walk from home to your office/ shop.
Know your numbers. You should know your numbers of BP, cholesterol and sugars periodically. Visit a physician who can measure your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, weight and waist-to-hip ratio (should be below 1.0 in men and below 0.9 in women).
Once we know our overall risk, we can develop a specific plan of action to improve our heart health. Let’s make this action plan clearly visible in our home as a reminder note.
By actioning the house-hold steps above, we and our family can reduce the risk of heart attacks. However, not all heart events are preventable. It is therefore important to know what action to take should a heart attack occur at home.
One Heart
Finally, if we do develop heart disease, we need to know how to take care of it. We need to know that eventually many of us are likely to develop some type of heart related problem in our lifetime. We need to therefore understand its symptoms and what to do in case of an emergency.
Every year, 17.1 million lives are claimed by the global burden of cardiovascular disease, with 82 percent of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This excessive number of deaths is particularly saddening, since through steps such as eating a healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoiding tobacco, the majority of these deaths could be prevented. If you suspect a family member of having a heart attack or stroke, seek medical help immediately.
The warning signs of heart attack include chest discomfort, including squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest or behind the breastbone, discomfort and/or pain spreading to other areas of the upper body such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach and sudden breathing difficulty with or without chest discomfort.
Heart is a muscular organ and it pumps blood to all parts of our body. For doing this nonstop work, heart itself also needs a constant blood supply to get energy and oxygen. This is supplied to heart muscles through two arteries called coronary arteries.
When there is a sudden complete occlusion (block) in one of the coronary arteries, it causes rapid death of the cells of that part of heart muscles. The patient perceives chest pain. An ECG done at that time will show abnormal changes. A blood test done at that time will show evidence of heart cells death. This condition is called myocardial infarction or heart attack. The sudden block occurs because of formation of a clot. The exact trigger of such a clotting process is still not very clear. People who have high cholesterol or, high blood pressure, those who have diabetes or those who smoke have high risk of such sudden clotting and heart attacks.
The treatment should be quick as every minute of delay can cause the permanent damage to heart muscles. About 50 percent of deaths actually can occur even before the patient reaches hospital. The best treatment is to give aspirin tablets (300 mg) and to open the blocked artery. This can be done by using a clot bursting drug (like Streptokinase) or even better by doing an emergency angioplasty and stenting of the blocked artery.
Heart attacks can be life threatening especially if treatment is not done on time. However, once treated well, with some precautions and regular medications, most patients can live a near normal and useful life.
World Heart Day & Dashain
Maybe it’s a good coincidence for Nepalis that World Heart Day falls right in and around Dashain every year, a perfect time to tell us that we should not spoil our health in the name of festival.
Let’s celebrate World Heart Day and Dashain in a positive way. Let’s gift our families our good health activities .Your health is of utmost importance to your family and society. Let’s not force our own family members and friends toward unhealthy eating and drinking or smoking. What can be a better gift for your loving daughter and son than starting a morning walk, joining a gym or quitting smoking this Dashain.
Related story
Safety in the air begins on the ground
