Knowledge of Preventable CVD risk factors among masses- Tip of iceberg: Dr Sushil

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Continuing his drive and passion to transform the society into cardiac friendly and to educate the masses about the measures to promote cardiac health Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu, Dr Sushil Sharma conducted a day long cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp at Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Bhawan , Parade Jammu.
The camp was organized in collaboration with Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha on the eve of celebration of Birthday of Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Ji with main focus to strengthen the measures already in place for primary prevention of cardiac ailments right from primary to tertiary healthcare levels and to enlighten masses to further attend such camps in future to make them aware of policies to enhance cardiac health and measures to achieve them.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil Stated that Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are well established as leading contributors to the burden of diseases in the developing countries, as well as the developed world. An estimated 29.2 per cent of total global deaths, result from the various forms of CVDs, many of which are preventable by action on the major primary risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and smoking. Eight risk factors of CVDs account for 61% of cardiovascular deaths and they include alcohol use, tobacco use, high blood pressure, high body mass index/adibosity, high blood cholesterol and glucose, low fruit and vegetable intake, and physical inactivity.
While individual choices play a part in these behaviours, government and policymakers also play an important role in ensuring people have access to the tools they need to live a healthy life, including clean air, affordable healthy food, and well-planned urban spaces that encourage an active lifestyle.
Health policies that create environments where healthy choices are not only available, but also affordable, are essential for motivating people to adopt and sustain healthier lifestyles.
He elaborated that knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart healthy. Checking your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels on a regular basis is important to help determine and control your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the biggest causes of heart attack and stroke.
It usually has no symptoms, so it’s important to get it regularly checked and, if needed, take the necessary measures to lower it, which may include dietary changes, increased physical activity, and medication. High levels of cholesterol in your blood also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. Blood cholesterol can normally be controlled through a healthy diet and, if necessary, by appropriate medication.
Dr Sushil Sharma in his concluding remarks told that there are deficiencies in CVD knowledge among general population, which could turn into insufficient preventative behaviours and suboptimal patient outcomes. There is an apparent need to establish more wide-spread and effective educational interventions, which should be sensitive to the perceptions, attitudes, and abilities of targeted individuals. There is urgent need to establish more wide-spread and effective educational interventions, which should be sensitive to the perceptions, attitudes, and abilities of targeted individuals, he said. Management Committee of the Sabha Vaid Prakash Sharma, Verinder Magotra , Nanak Sharma, Rajesh Bagotra , Davinder Sharma, P C Sharma, Subhash Shastri and Reetiz Khajuria 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 S K Bali (Nephrologist), Dr Venkatesh Yellupu and Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor. Paramedics and Volunteers who were part of the team included Kamal Sharma, Raghav Rajput, Ranjeet Thakur, Nitish Mahajan , Rohit Nayyar, Amish Jamwal, Rajinder Singh, Arun Singh, Jatin Bhasin, Rajkumar, Maninder Singh, Jatin Bhasin, Paramveer Singh , Gourav Sharma and Vikas Kumar.