September 27th, 2009 is World Heart Day. According to the figures just released by WHO, cardiovascular diseases stands first as the world’s number one killer, accounting for nearly 17.1 million lives last year, a staggering number indeed. But how often do we acknowledge what the human heart does for us? Most of us take its function of working non-stop 24/7 as granted. We do not care at all until disaster strikes in the form of heart disease, raised blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. On this day of such great importance, let us dedicate ourselves to help our hearts function better by looking again at the following: • Is your blood pressure showing unsteady readings lately? Talk to your doctor if you are having heaviness in your chest and unreasonable fits of anger. Your blood pressure will vary according to your age. A healthy heart will show a reading of 120 – 130 and the diastolic pressure will read between 80 – 90. • Eat a low fat diet. Your diet should include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. Wherever possible eat the fruits with the outer skin. Do not fry the fish and chicken; instead, grill or roast them. Use less oil. And have plenty of garlic every day. • When did you last check your weight? Those unusual extra pounds will only increase your cholesterol levels, your blood pressure and increase the risk of coronary heart disease and even strokes. • Quit smoking! If you’ve been postponing the desire to quit cigarettes for years, now is the time to do it. Tobacco will only increase the formation of plaque in the blood vessels, leading to clots that can cause heart attacks. • Are you diabetic? If you are, then you are more prone towards coronary heart disease. Take measures regularly to keep your blood sugar levels safe. • Reduce the drinking of alcohol. Excess can only increase your blood pressure and result in irregular heart beat and a diseased heart muscle. • Does your family have a history of heart disease? How about your parents? It has been seen that diabetes, obesity and other risk factors are generally passed on to the children. • Last, but not the least, exercise regularly. Most people do not realize this, but the human heart is also a muscle just like any other – it must be exercised. Exercise reduces the blood pressure and widens the blood vessels to improve circulation. It also raises good HDL cholesterol. There is not one single medication that can alternate with the advantages of exercise. There is no need to allocate 2 hours every day at the gym. All you need is a moderate activity like walking briskly along the beach or side road every morning for 20 minutes a day. Or you could ride a plain bike. Walk down the stairs instead of using the elevator, park your car at the back of your building and walk the stairs to your flat. Walk to the market to do your groceries. Whatever it is, try to get more steps into your daily routine. They all will add up to give your heart a smiling look. A daily routine of 10,000 steps should do wonders for your heart! Exercising for a healthy heart should be as important as keeping an appointment with your hairdresser or facial at the Taj or Sheraton, or maybe even that game of bridge with your pals at your favourite club. On 26 and 27 September a health awareness program is planned in many main cities of the states in India as part of the World Heart Day celebrations. The activities will be held under the combined supervision of the Cardiological Society of India and the Heart Care Foundation. The programme includes free medical check-ups and seminars addressed by leading doctors from all over the country. You can log on to http://www.world-heart-federation.org/ for more information. Written by Mr. Sunder Venkataram, Thane (Maharashtra) … [Read more...]
Heart Diseases world’s largest killer
Heart disease and stroke are responsible for largest number of deaths in the world. Heart diseases kill 17.5 million people in the world. This report was released by World Heart Foundation on September 30, World Heart Day. In India, 70 million people are suffering from heart diseases. Biggest concern is most of these deaths are preventable. Image courtesy: Wellness Evolution. Obesity, Diabetes, uncontrolled blood pressure, Smoking, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet habits are major causes for heart diseases. Obesity is gradually attaining epidemic proportions especially in urban areas due to lack of physical activity and junk food habits. Obesity is the major factor for causing type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure. Heart attack is the number one cause of death in diabetic patients. Brisk walking for 35-40 minutes alone saves millions of deaths from heart diseases. Smoking is the number one causative factor for heart diseases and stroke. Fast foods are another major risk factor for heart diseases by increasing bad cholesterol thereby causing clotting in the blood vessels. Contrary to popular belief, 80% of deaths from chronic diseases occur in low and middle class families due to increased health awareness among rich families. Decrease in deaths due to heart ailments is mainly due to better medical treatment and rising health awareness. Increase in physical activity, consuming diet rich in vegetables and fruits and abstaining from smoking will prevent 80% deaths from heart diseases. Please share your opinion on this article. … [Read more...]
World Heart Day: September 30, 2007
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...]
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