ISLAMABAD: Renowned cardiologist Thursday expressed serious concern over the rise in cardiovascular diseases-related deaths in the country due to unhealthy lifestyles and lack of quality sleep among young generation.
Cardiovascular diseases have immensely increased over the past two decades, Senior cardiologist Professor Dr. Hamid Shafqat said in an interview.
Expert urged people to adopt healthy lifestyles, lower their cholesterol level and control hypertension and diabetes through regular exercise and take a healthy and balanced diet.
According to him, heart ailments were even more lethal than cancer and other communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Cardiac expert stress for raising awareness about the burden of hypertension and heart failure and its impact on lives of patients in present society.
Health expert said that hypertension is considered the most important modifiable risk factor for diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and end-stage renal disease.
This places a huge importance on early identification & treatment of patients with hypertension by the healthcare professionals, he added.
A healthy lifestyle and precautionary approaches to decrease the prevalence of this disease in the Pakistani population is also important, he emphasized
Prof Dr Hamid said that heart failure is the abnormality of cardiac structure or function leading to failure of the heart to adequately supply blood to organ systems. It is a chronic condition, which is combined with acute episodes.
It is important that these patients are counseled and educated about importance of proper diet and medication, he added.
Most people need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets with less use of oil in their daily lifestyles, he advised, adding, eating many fruits and vegetables not only can help prevent heart disease, but also may help improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improve diabetes.
He further said, some people cope with stress in unhealthy ways such as over-eating, drinking or smoking. finding alternative ways to manage stress such as physical activity, relaxation exercises or meditation can help improve your health.
Adults should generally have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years starting at age 18. Earlier testing may be recommended if you have other risk factors, such as a family history of early-onset heart disease, he recommended.
Olive oil lowers the levels of total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, he said, added, at the same time it does not alter the levels of HDL-cholesterol which plays a protective role and prevents the formation of fatty patches, thus stimulating the elimination of the low-density lipoproteins.
