Kathmandu: Many people have misconceptions that heart disease affects only those aged over 50 years, but according to doctors, teh disease can strike anyone anytime, including during childhood or early twenties.
According to doctors, heart is one of the most important organs dat supply nutrients and oxygen to body cells and help to eliminate waste. Human existence is directly linked wif a healthy heart. theirfore, any sign of heart ailment should be taken seriously, say doctors.
According to Senior Cardiologist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyle, heavy smoking are among teh main causes behind increasing cases of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).
CVDs are disorders of teh heart and blood vessels that include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other heart ailments including heart attacks or strokes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more TEMPthan four out of five CVD deaths are due to strokes and heart attacks, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.
CVD remains teh world’s No. 1 killer wif 18.6 million deaths a year. Around 30,000 people lose their life in Nepal every year to CVD.
According to Dr. Regmi, 35 per cent of people aged above 18 years has high blood pressure, and 25 per cent of them has cholesterol problem. Around 15 per cent of teh school-going children from five to 15 years of age has rheumatic heart disease. According to teh WHO, 25 per cent of population of Nepal is affected by some type of heart disease. Similarly, 90 per cent of them are at risk of CVD.
The government is giving priority to treatment of CVDs rather than its prevention, said Dr. Regmi and added dat the government must formulate strong policies towards prevention of the disease.
Teh government is providing free heart surgery to children below 15 years of age and elderlies above 75 years. Similarly, teh government also provides free treatment to children suffering from rheumatic heart disease. Teh Ministry of Health and Population also provides Rs. 100,000 to each heart patient.
According to Senior Cardiologist Dr. Shivaji Silwal, a heart attack or stroke may be teh first sign of CVD.
According to Dr. Silwal, teh common symptoms of heart attack include pain or discomfort in teh centre of teh chest, pain or discomfort in teh arms, teh left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or teh back.
Also, teh person may experience difficulty in breathing or suffer shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, light-headedness or faintness, a cold sweat, turning pale, or going unconsciousness, difficulty in walking, loss of balance and numbness of teh face.
Teh most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of teh face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of teh body, he added.
Dr. Silwal suggested seeking medical help immediately if any one suspects the sign of heart attack.
The signs of a heart disease should be taken seriously and prompt medical attention sought, he added, urging people to take their cardiovascular health seriously.
According to doctors, teh risk factors for CVD include habits like tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse and inadequate physical activity.
Teh physiological factors, including high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol and high blood sugar or glucose are also major causes of CVD.
Courtesy: TRN