Primary prevention and healthy lifestyle in cardiac ailments-need of hour: Dr Sushil

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: In view of the ever increasing incidence of cardiac ailments and lifestyle diseases Head Department of Cardiology, Dr Sushil Sharma held a day long Cardiac awareness cum Health checkup camp at Ram Mandir, Simbal Camp, R S Pura, here for educating masses regarding the importance of primary prevention in decreasing mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular diseases. More than 250 people were screened; evaluated, diagnosed and free medicines were given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term for a number of linked pathologies, commonly defined as coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic and congenital heart diseases and venous thromboembolism. Globally CVD accounts for 31% of mortality, the majority of this in the form of CHD and cerebrovascular accident. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that over 75% of premature CVD is preventable and risk factor amelioration can help reduce the growing CVD burden on both individuals and healthcare providers.
He elaborated that Prevention strategies occur at the population level but must also engage individual adults to slow the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
The most important way to prevent ASCVD is to promote a healthy lifestyle throughout life.
Prevention strategies must include a strong focus on lifestyle optimization (improvements in diet, physical activity, and avoidance of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke) to minimize the risk of future ASCVD events.
Exercise is universally recognized as having a positive impact on the majority of health outcomes and its effect on CVD is no different. Mortality and morbidity directly due to exercise remains minimal even up to very intense levels of exercise and in the overwhelming majority the benefits outweigh the risks, he added .
Dr Sushil Sharma, in his keynote address, told that the objective of CVD prevention is to reduce the occurrence of major cardiovascular events thereby reducing premature disability and morbidity whilst prolonging survival and quality of life.
He told that there are numerous methods to reduce CVD risk profile with strong consensus regarding smoking and exercise, whilst the fine details may vary slightly for other factors.
Pharmaceutical options have developed over the years whilst lifestyle advice remains largely unchanged and is the current need of hour.
In conclusion primary prevention continues to evolve and with greater availability of long-term data comes improved understanding of the means by which we can reduce CVD risk. It is an endeavour that must be continued if we are to reduce the burden of a preventable disease.
Members of the National Welfare Society Simbal Camp Rajinder Singh Mehta (President), Manmohan Singh (Panch), Harpal Singh (Panch), Ajeet Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Krishan Singh and Harbans Singh appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting cardiac awareness-cum-health check-up-camp in their locality and hope such kind of initiative in near future also.
Others who were part of this Camp includes Dr Dhaneshwer Kapoor, Dr Suryadev Singh and Dr Pulkit Sharma. Paramedics and volunteers includes Raghav Rajput, Kamal Sharma, Rajkumar, Amandeep Singh, Maninder Singh, Paramveer Singh, Arjun Ghuman, Hridhanshu Kohli, Mukesh Kumar, Jamshed Ali, Sandeep Pal, Rajinder Singh and Gourav Sharma.