2007 “World Heart Day” slogan is “Team Up for Healthy Hearts”. Its aim is to encourage people to join together and create hearty-healthy communities. World Heart Federation, World Health Organization and other organizations are taking active part in propagating this message. Heart diseases statistics: Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally. An estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 % of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 7.6 million were due to heart attacks and 5.7 million were due to stroke. Around 80% of these deaths occurred in developing countries. If appropriate action is not taken, by 2015, an estimated 20 million people will die from cardiovascular disease every year, mainly from heart attacks and strokes. Heart role in life: 1. Physically: It beats 70times/minute and in a day, it beats more than one lakh times in a day. Even though it is small in size (compared to liver), it plays vital role in the bodily functions. 2. Mentally and socially: we call a particular person as ‘’heart-less fellow”. Here heart means-kindness, sympathy, generosity, loving others, etc. in nature. 3. Spiritually: The golden quotation is “those who are pure at heart, they are blessed and shall see God one day”. That means God is residing in our heart in the form of “Soul”, and reminding us always to do good only. It clearly shows that the heart is not a simple, innocent, physical (muscular) organ but more than that, playing greater role in our day to day activities. Hence it is our duty to protect our heart in every aspect and respect. Heart diseases causes: Heart attacks and paralysis are the main causes of death among the population. 175 million people are dying due to these two diseases only, every year in the world. 1. Obesity: At present 155 million children are suffering from obesity, all over the world. It is a very dangerous situation. We have to be very careful about the food habits and physical exercise in them. Otherwise these habits become stabilized and remain in the later life also. If the children are obese, the chances of getting heart attacks before reaching the age of 65 years are 3-5 times more, than normal weight persons. Many of them are prone to diabetes. 2. Tobacco-smoking: The incidence of smoking is increasing year after year, especially among the youth, who constitute 50% of the population, in spite of the anti-smoking propaganda, undertaken by the governments and other private organizations. 3. Food habits: More intake of fatty, junk foods (high cholesterol diet), leads to heart troubles. 4. Stress and strain, lack of exercise, etc are other factors. 5. Heart diseases in Women: Previously the notion was that only men suffer from heart attacks. Now the trend is changed and 50% of deaths among women are due to heart attacks only. More over the signs and symptoms in females are a little different compared to males. The pain in chest during the heart attack is more felt in men, than the women. But women feel more “tiredness” and it is misunderstood for general weakness. So women are to be more enlightened on these matters. 6. Low intake of fruit and vegetables is estimated to cause about 31% of ischemic heart disease, 11% of stroke worldwide and 19% of gastrointestinal cancer. Overall, 2.7 million deaths are attributable to low fruit and vegetable intake. 7. Physical inactivity is estimated to cause, globally, about 10-16% of cases each of breast cancer, colon and rectal cancers and diabetes mellitus, and about 22% of ischemic heart disease. Overall, 1.9 million deaths are attributable to physical inactivity. How to prevent heart attacks? 1. Heart attacks and strokes are major killers in all parts of the world. But they can often be prevented. 2. You can protect yourself from heart attacks and strokes by investing a little time and effort. 3. Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity increase the risk of heart … [Read more...]
How to prevent heart diseases?
Human heart is of the size of a man’s fist. Even though it is of such a small size, its performance is of the size of a mountain. World Heart Day is observed on -24th September, every year. Throughout the world, 57 million people are dying due to various causes, in a year. Out of which 17 million people are dying due to the diseases of the heart only. It is estimated by World health organisation that by 2010 more number of deaths might be due to diseases of heart and blood vessels. But most of these deaths are preventable. Main causes for these deaths: 1. High blood pressure 2. Atherosclerosis (high cholesterol levels in the blood) 3. Diabetes (especially affecting more people in developing countries). 4. Obesity due to bad food habits and lack of exercise. 5. Tobacco smoking: Raises the bad cholesterol level (LDL) in the blood (in low fat persons) which is not good for heart. 6. Stress and strain: More common in modern speedy life, as hurry makes worry. Signs and symptoms: If any of the following symptoms are noticed, one has to consult the physician for further treatment of the case. 1. Pain in the chest and also some discomfort in the middle of the chest2. Feeling of tightness or keeping weight on the chest3. Breathing becomes difficult4. Dyspnoea and sweating all over the body. How to protect your Heart? 1. Get rid of that bat habit of tobacco smoking. 2. Walk for ½ an hour daily (as brisk walking is the best exercise) 3. Blood pressure and Diabetes should be under control. 4. Avoid tension (stress and strain), and try to be with laughing face always (as laughter is the best medicine), 5. Take balanced diet always (as quality is main than quantity, that slogan holds good anywhere and every where). 6. Have positive thinking mentality (as hope is life). 7. Belief in GOD gives you mental peace (as sincere faith moves mountains). Hence keeping the heart in healthy condition is in your hands only. Remember this slogan always: Health is Wealth, (and every other thing is secondary to Health). … [Read more...]
World No Tobacco Day – May 31
World No Tobacco Day aims to encourage countries and governments to work toward strict regulation of tobacco products. According to World health organization (WHO), Tobacco is responsible for the death of 1 in 10 adults worldwide. Tobacco is responsible for 5 million deaths worldwide. WHO urged all governments to ban smoking in public places. Women and children are worst sufferers due to passive smoking. China is the worst sufferer where more than 1 lakh people are dying each year due to second hand smoking. Leading causes of death according to WHO: 1. Heart diseases, 2. Tobacco use. Tobacco use in any form can produce number of diseases in the body. Out of them, 70% are diseases of Respiratory system. The most important disease is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the second important disease is Lung Cancer. Tobacco mainly contains –Nicotine, Tar, Carbon Monoxide and 4000 different types of different harmful cancer producing chemicals. When a person smokes tobacco, the harmful chemicals enter into the respiratory tract damages the inner mucous layer and produce other poisonous substances. The cilia (thread –like small structures) immediately come into action and move vigorously to all sides, trying to remove the harmful products. But after some time the cilia become weak and cannot send out these pollutants from the respiratory system and in turn, the harmful products remain there and begin to damage the respiratory system and infect the organs causing diseases. Diseases due to Tobacco use: 1. Pneumonia 2. Bronchitis 3Tuberculosis 4. Emphysema 5. Lung Cancer. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Diseases: 1. Tightness in the chest 2. Pain in the chest during inhalation 3. Cough and wheezing. 4. Breathlessness 5. Loss of appetite and weight loss, 6. Sleeplessness, tiredness and shivering of the body (mainly due to accumulation of Nicotine in the blood). 7. If the person is already suffering from Asthma, smoking aggravates it severely. 70% of the smokers want to get rid of this bad habit, but only 3% are able to put a full stop to it. How to get rid of this bad habit: 1. Doctor’s moivation is essential.2. Support from family members and friends is also plays a prominent role. 3. Behavior therapy with psychologists. 4. Constipation problem may be there after stopping smoking, but this will be solved with drugs. 5. De- Addiction Therapy the desire of smoking is gradually decreased. The drugs have to be taken under the supervision of a physician. Many individuals might stop the smoking with the above methods, but some may start to smoke again, so the persons should be watched by their relatives for some more time and also they should be kept away from the smokers’ circle. It is good to consult the doctor for every three months. Smoking should not be stopped all of a sudden, because of nicotine effect on the body. If stopped suddenly, the person gets angry even for small causes and develops vomiting, diarrhea, pains all over the body, shivering, loss of concentration and tiredness. So smoking should be stopped gradually. Why they smoke? Brain is activated and there is a sense of happiness develops in the mind of a smoker, due to the presence of Nicotine in the tobacco. Our body naturally produces some amount of Nicotine along with other chemicals. The normal function of Nicotine is to control the emotions that arise in the brain (mind) and gives joyfulness even in the depressed mind (man).The body produces only the required amount of Nicotine, for its normal physiological function, and not excess any more. More over hormones like-Adrenaline and neurotransmitters like Acetyl choline control the production of Nicotine; otherwise the excess production will endanger the life of a person. Here the Nicotine in the tobacco mixes with the already present natural Nicotine in the body and causes the harmful effects in the individual. Now, … [Read more...]
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