A new campaign to raise awareness of heart failure was launched Thursday by the Dubai Health Authority and Emirates Cardiac Society.
“Heart failure develops over time as the pumping action of the heart gets weaker,” said Dr Arif Al Mulla, head of cardiology at Dubai Hospital. “It can affect either the right, the left, or both sides of the heart. People with heart problems, those who have suffered a heart attack, people with chronic diseases such as diabetes are more susceptible to developing heart failure if they do not control and manage their disease.”
The growing dependence on fast-foods and inactive lifestyle are the biggest factors that trigger heart diseases, said Dr. Nooshin Bazargani, Consultant Cardiologist in Dubai Hospital.
Long-term negligence of health can also lead to chronic heart problems, said Dr Alawi Al Sheikh Ali, consultant cardiologist at SKMC and President of the Emirates Cardiac Society.
Dubai Hospital and Rashid Hospital participated in the Heart Failure Registry known as Gulf Care, which included data from 5,000 patients in the GCC countries collected over one year from February 2012 to 2013.
The average age of patients in the registry was 59 years, which is about 10 years younger than the average age of patients with heart failure in Europe and America.
“Time and again studies have showed that the average age of patients getting heart attacks or having heart failure is 10 years earlier than in many western countries. This means mortality at a younger age and in cases where patients survive it means loss of productivity because after heart failure many patients suffer from some form of loss of productivity or disability,” Dr Bazargani said.
She said 63 per cent of patients who were admitted to hospital with heart failure were male.
Out of the total number, 61 per cent had history of hypertension, 50 per cent had a history of diabetes mellitus, 47 per cent had a history of coronary artery disease.
“These statistics clearly point out the obvious – people with chronic diseases have a higher risk of developing heart failure and therefore they cannot ignore their diseases. “Those with chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity etc must follow a healthy diet, regular exercise and they must visit their doctor periodically as well as consume medications on time and not skip or avoid their medications,” said Dr Al Mulla.
To reduce the risk of a heart attack, stop smoking, cut down on salt, reduce stress levels, walk briskly for 30 minutes a day, check your blood sugar regularly if over age 30, keep your cholesterol level under control and keep your weight in check.
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