Cardiovascular health in developing world – Multifactorial, intersectoral determinants: Dr Sushil
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: While spearheading his drive to educate and screen masses for cardiovascular and related ailments Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma held a day long Cardiac awareness cum Health Check camp at Sarv Shakti Chandi Mata Mandir , Dhammi Nagrota, Jammu with main focus on promotion of cardiac friendly lifestyle in developing countries to overcome major socioeconomic burden alongwith achieving affordable and equitable healthcare.
While interacting with the People Dr Sushil Stated that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related chronic diseases are now recognized as the leading causes of death worldwide. Cardiovascular disease risk factors have also increased globally. In addition to the disease burden, global CVD imposes a substantial economic burden on LMICs at both population and household levels. The accelerating rates of unrecognized and inadequately addressed CVD and related chronic diseases in LMICs are cause for immediate action. Despite several recent calls for action to translate epidemiological data into strategies and policy frameworks, a profound mismatch remains between the compelling evidence documenting the health and economic burden of CVD and the lack of concrete steps to increase investment and implement CVD prevention and disease management efforts in LMICs.
The determinants of the global CVD epidemic are multifactorial and intersectoral, involving interrelated influences that stem from multiple sectors of society, extending beyond the direct domain of the health sector.
The proximate risk factors for CVD are genomic, biological (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus), and behavioral (diet, physical activity, tobacco). These risk factors are influenced by more upstream and structural factors, such as demographic change, economic development, sociopolitical determinants, social inequality, education, cultural norms, and globalization.
He elaborated that an emerging body of evidence suggests that rapid dietary changes associated with nutritional transition, along with a decrease in levels of physical activity in many rapidly urbanizing societies, also may play a particularly important role in the rise of CVD observed in developing countries. The nutritional transition currently occurring in many low and middle income countries has created a new phenomenon in which it is not uncommon to see both undernutrition and obesity coexist in the same populations.
The exponential growth in the use of tropical oils (specifically palm oil) and partially hydrogenated soybean oil in low and middle income countries is troubling because both these oils contain high levels of fatty acids that are atherogenic and linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction.
Dr Sushil Sharma, while highlighting the measures needed to promote cardiovascular health in developing countries, told that we should include a set of specific actions targeted to specific stakeholders, which are intended to encourage a sufficient shift in the global health and development agenda to facilitate critical next steps that will build toward the eventual goal of widespread dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs, policies, and other tools to address CVD and related chronic diseases in LMICs.
The individual-level actions needed to prevent and treat CVD appear straightforward: eat a healthy diet, remain physically active throughout life, do not use tobacco, and seek health care regularly, he said.
Management Committee of the Mandir Sanjay Gandotra, Vikas Singh Jamwal, Davinder Singh, Vikram Bhasin, Jung Bahadur and Balwan Singh appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil Sharma and his team for conducting cardiac Awareness cum health Check up camp and shows their heartfelt gratitude.
Others who were part of this humane effort included Dr Yashwant Sharma, Dr. Dhaneshwar Kapoor, Dr Shubham Pandoh, Dr Harsh Chauhan , Aditya Chaubey and Dr Abhishek Mahajan. Paramedics and Volunteers who were part of the team included Kamal Sharma, Rohit Nayyar, Rahul Sharma, Amish Jamwal, Mukesh Kumar, Rajinder Singh, Rahul Vaid, Jatin Bhasin, Paramveer Singh , Gourav Sharma and Vikas Kumar.
