Protect your heart

World Heart Day is observed on September 29 to educate people on cardiovascular diseases

The World Heart Day is an effort to ensure that people are able to make heart-healthy choices wherever they live, work and play. This is important because each year more than 17 million people die worldwide due to heart diseases and strokes. That is more people than those killed by other deadly diseases like cancer, AIDS and malaria. World Heart Day, organised by the World Heart Federation, is an endeavour to send across a message that cardiac problems can be prevented.
World Heart Day 2016 encourages us all to reduce cardiovascular risks and promote a heart-healthy planet for those around us. If we make an effort to be more active, avoid unhealthy diets, cut on high levels of cholesterol and glucose, we might be addressing many underlying factors that trigger heart diseases.
Inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes have been listed as the main reasons for cardiac problems. Doctors are of the opinion that heart diseases can be avoided if the main risk factors are controlled. Increased awareness about heart disease, early detection and remedial measures like lifestyle changes can vastly reduce the likelihood of getting a heart attack.
According to the Dubai Heart Centre, more than 40 per cent of the UAE adult population, aged between 35 and 70 years, suffers from hypertension. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) notes that cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure should be tested at least once a year after the age of 35 because of the prevalence of heart disease among the young in the region.
Experts generally advise 40 minutes of continuous activity like jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming or brisk walking at least four times a week. Regular check-ups and screenings are also a good idea. Patients are encouraged to approach a cardiologist in case of a suspected heart disease. Tests like Electrocardiogram (ECG) and treadmill test (TMT) are very helpful in this regard.
Changing your eating habits is key to a healthy heart. A heart-healthy diet includes adding more vegetables and fruits in your diet. Selecting whole grains over refined grain products and limiting the intake of unhealthy fats and cholesterol is the key to a good heart. Doctors emphasise the use of less salt in food. Linked to high blood pressure or hypertension, high sodium foods are not good for health.
Taking more vegetables and using herbs and spices in place of salt for flavouring is a very effective way to replace high salt content in your diet. You must also watch out for food package labels to keep a tab on the sodium content. Alternatively, intake of foods with high salt content, viz canned, processed and frozen items, must be limited as much as possible.
While precaution goes a long way in saving lives, the medical and scientific community is continuously working on drugs and medication to prolong the lives of people with heart diseases. Latest advancements in coronary surgery like minimally invasive heart surgery, robotic atrial fibrillation, transcather aortic valve implantation, endoscopic vein harvesting and mini-circuit heart-lung machines point to the constant improvement in cardiac surgical care.
World Heart Federation, in partnership with World Health Organisation, is active in several countries with the objective of overcoming cardiovascular diseases. This World Heart Day many seminars, talks, workshops and awareness campaigns - on risks posed by heart disease and its prevention and measures to increase awareness - are being organised in the UAE.

-sadiq@khaleejtimes.com

ADDITIONAL TIPS Eat healthy food that includes fruits and vegetables Avoid salty snacks and food Exercise regularly Avoid stress and anxiety Drink eight glasses of water a day Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing Take precautions against infectious diseases Wash your hands before taking food Cook meat thoroughly Store raw meat in such a way that it does not get spoiled Wash fruits and vegetables with clean water Self-medication should be avoided

• Dubai