How To Stop The Killer
By
Blessing Ajayi and Opeyemi Adeleke
Monday, October 23, 2006
Heart-related diseases have remained deadly but experts say they can be avoided
People, who lose their lives annually through heart-related diseases,are on the increase globally. The Nigeria Heart Foundation's recent report put the figure at 17.5 million. This staggering figure has become a source of worry to medical experts because the ailment has become one of the world's killer diseases in recent times.
Research has shown that 50 million Americans have heart-related diseases and most other western countries face an increasing rate of heart diseases.
Emmanuel Ekunno, chairman of the organising committee, World Heart Day 2006, said 80 percent of those affected by the ailment were from low and middle income countries including Nigeria, many of whom belong to the working class cadre.
Heart disease, he said, is one of the risk factors which come usually without symptoms which is why it is regarded as a silent killer. He said, statistically, over one in 10 adult Nigerians is hypertensive, whether diagnosed or not.
Adebola Adeyemi, a doctor at Souls Infirmary Hospital and Maternity, Agege Lagos, said that when cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart's arteries, less blood reaches the heart muscle. This damages the muscle, and the healthy heart tissue that remains has to work harder. "The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach the heart, it may result in chest pain," he said.
According to Adeyemi, high blood pressure increases a person's risk of developing heart failure by two to three times. He explained that when pressure in the blood vessels is too high, the heart has to pump harder than normal to keep the blood circulating. This takes a toll on the heart, and over time, the chambers get larger and weaker.
Adeyemi said diabetes put extra strain on the heart, increasing risk for heart failure. People with diabetes also tend to be overweight and have high blood pressure and high cholesterol level which makes the heart work harder.
Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth. "It affects about eight out of every 1,000 children. The defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood and sometimes not until adulthood and they are hereditary," he explained.
Another cause of heart disease is smoking. Medical experts believe that a person's risk of heart attack greatly increases with the number of cigarettes he or she smokes. Adeyemi also shared the same idea. He said women who smoke and also take birth control pills are likely to have heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Cigarette smoking is also a causative factor, smoking increases heart disease by reducing oxygen supply to the heart, increases blood pressure and damages cells that line coronary arteries and other blood vessels.
Other causes of heart disease include overweight, stress and excessive intake of alcohol.
The main symptom of heart disease is angina caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the heart's muscle because of a reduction in blood flow. Angina is a feeling of heaviness, tightness or pain in the middle of the chest that may extend to arms, neck and back.
Oluwole Oluyemi, a medical doctor at the Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osobgo, said for many people, the first indication that something is wrong is when the blood supply to a part of the muscle is interrupted usually because of a blood clot in the coronary artery. The pain of a heart attack is often severe and may also be mistaken for indigestion. Other symptoms include sweating and breathlessness.
To prevent heart disease, he said, you should cut down on your consumption of bad fats mainly found in animals products such as red meat, butter and hard cheeses and increase your intake good fats that actively protect the arteries. Good fat comprises omega-3 acids, found particularly in oily fish and omega-6 fats found in olives, nuts, seeds, vegetables and grains.
Oluyemi said one of the most important steps to reduce the risk of heart disease is to stop smoking. "The key to successfully quit smoking is to pick a method that's right for you. If you are motivated by other people and enjoy their company, you may find encouragement and support by joining a group who don't smoke," he said.
Another important ingredient in preventing heart disease is increasing physical activities. It can lower high blood pressure. People who are physically active have a lower risk of getting high blood pressure than people who are not active. "You don't have to be a marathon runner to benefit from physical activity even light activities, if done daily, can help lower your risk of heart disease," he added.
It has been discovered that garlic and onions can also help improve one's cholesterol profile. They contain compounds that help lower blood pressure and levels of harmful cholesterol.
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