[ad_1]
Experts stress that nearly 35% to 40% of deaths in UAE are caused by heart attack or stroke
Cardiovascular disease cases among young people in the UAE have been on the rise, many leading to heart attacks and strokes, medical experts say.
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, killing 17.9 million people each year.
Doctors at private hospitals in the UAE have noticed a trend that most cases are in the 30-50 age group.
Dr Bilal Kabeer Khan, a cardiologist at Musafah Al-Ahaliyah Hospital, said that over the past few decades, people’s lifestyles have changed dramatically, leading to an increase in heart disease cases.
“Influences on the activity, diet and lifestyle of their populations lead to increased rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This leads to higher rates of heart disease.”
Over the past few years, the UAE Future of Health Study and the UAE National Health Survey have shown that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is quite high in the young population aged 18 to 40.
Risk factors for heart disease fall into two broad categories. The first category is non-modifiable risk factors such as age, gender, and family history of heart disease.
The second category of risk factors includes modifiable risk factors – diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity and excessive stress.
“Risk factors for heart disease are interconnected, and each additional risk factor exponentially increases the risk of heart disease. If left unchecked, these risk factors ultimately lead to heart disease,” Dr. Khan noted.
Dr. Jairam K. Aithal, Consultant and Program Director, Interventional Cardiology, NMC Healthcare, highlighted that nearly 35 to 40 percent of deaths in the UAE are caused by heart attacks or strokes.
“Heart attacks hit us almost a decade earlier in the UAE than most other countries. Changes in lifestyle, smoking, and rising rates of obesity and diabetes among younger populations have led to more premature heart attacks,” Dr Aithal said on the occasion of World Heart Day on September 29.
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Dr Khan noted that globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on cardiovascular health.
“Covid-19 infection can lead to arrhythmias and increased clot formation in the body. In the absence of any common risk factors for cardiovascular disease, these clots can lead to heart attacks and strokes. During the pandemic, patients are reluctant to go Hospital visits. As a result, there is a global trend where in-hospital deaths from cardiovascular disease have declined, but overall heart disease deaths have actually increased. Not only because of Covid-19-related clot formation, but Because patients fail to follow up with their physicians in a timely manner, their risk factor control is suboptimal.”
According to the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s annual statistical report, the number of deaths from heart disease in 2019 was 72 per 100,000 people, jumping to 84 per 100,000 people in 2020, reflecting the impact of Covid-19 on the Cardiovascular disease affects the number of deaths in the UAE.
Five Steps to Protect Your Heart
The doctor noted that the burden of cardiovascular disease in the future “will increase further unless awareness of prevention strategies is improved”.
Dr. Khan recommends a simple five-step strategy to achieve a healthier lifestyle and prevent heart disease.
step 1: Stop smoking.
Step 2: Eat healthy. Limit fat and sugar intake.
Step 3: Increase physical activity and exercise.Aim for about 150-300 minutes per week
Step 4: Reduce stress and get enough sleep.
Step 5: Know your numbers. Visit your doctor regularly and track your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
[ad_2]
Source link