Heart disease is an issue that affects both our society and our economy. As The National reported yesterday, a study by the Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Statistics Centre found it was the emirate's biggest killer, responsible for 30 per cent of deaths. The problem is not limited to Dubai nor to any specific age group. Across the country, patients as young as 21having cardiovascular disease are being diagnosed.
While this might seem a result of our poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, it’s more complicated than that. Cardiologists believe that the heat plays a role in thickening the blood, which increases the chance of developing blood clots that can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke even in healthy young people. As Dr Rajeev Lochan, a cardiologist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, said: “I’ve seen labourers who have had heart attacks. They are young, take exercise and don’t have a bad diet, but still they have heart attacks.”
When it comes to strokes, the number of cases keeps growing every year, with about 10,000 cases in 2015, compared to fewer than 8,000 in 2013.
We already know that diabetes, which affects 19 per cent of the population, fat and sugar, high tobacco consumption and other unhealthy lifestyle choices contribute to heart disease and other conditions, and there are awareness campaigns targeting those people most at risk. However, many of these factors are present elsewhere. The fact that our heart-disease figures are generally higher than in the United States and Europe suggests causes that are specific to this region.
The UAE can lead the way in research into the role that heat plays in heart attacks and strokes. Identifying the risk factors and addressing them will save lives and money that is now spent on health care and health insurance. Research may also lead to medicines or other treatments that can be exported.
When young people are dying of diseases normally associated with those decades older than them, it’s clear that something should be done.
