Primary prevention outweigh medications and interventions in cardiac ailments: 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 Village Mandal, Panchayat Katwalta, Block Purmandal, Samba 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 Despite being largely preventable, cardiovascular diseases causes more than 20.5 million deaths every year. An estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable. The main elements of CVD prevention are healthy diet, physical activity, avoiding tobacco. There are many risk factors associated with heart disease and stroke. Some risk factors, like family history, cannot be modified, while others, like high blood pressure, can be modified through lifestyle interventions and treatment. Millions of people worldwide struggle to control the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease and many others remain unaware that they are at high risk.
He elaborated that despite a fall in the proportion of CVD related deaths over the last 40?years, the rate of decline is slowing while morbidity from CVD is rising. The ability to identify those at risk of CVD allows for risk factor modification through primary prevention. There are a number of factors that affect a person’s risk of developing CVD including increasing age, gender, family history and ethnicity which are non-modifiable. There are also a number of factors in terms of lifestyle and pharmacological interventions that have been demonstrated to affect CVD risk and are modifiable including hypertension, obesity, tobacco smoking, diet, exercise, cholesterol levels, alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus control.
He stressed that the most substantial reductions in major cardiovascular events are seen at commencement of exercise, with subsequent increases in level of exercise providing further benefit though diminishing returns are noted at upper extremes of exercise intensity. Everyone should get started with these eight tips to boost heart health Don’t smoke or use tobacco, Get moving: Aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of activity daily, Eat a heart-healthy diet, Maintain a healthy weight, Get quality sleep. Manage stress, Get regular health screening tests, Take steps to prevent infections.
He further added that the most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. These behaviors can lead to raised blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, which can in turn be measured in order to assess an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
While individual choices play a part in these behaviors, 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 said.
Prominent members of the area Sapna Sapolia (Sarpanch), Des Raj (Naib Sarpanch), Jitender Dogra (Panch), Ranjana Kumari (Panch), Ram Pal, Rasal Singh, Dyan Singh and Ram Saroop appreciated the efforts of Dr Sushil and his team for conducting cardiac Awareness Cum health checkup camp in their area .
Others who were part of this camp included Dr Venkatesh Illepu and Dr. Dhaneshwer Kapoor Paramedics and Volunteers who were part of the team included Vikas Kumar, Raghav Rajput, Ranjeet Singh, Maninder Singh, Paramveer Singh, Rajinder Singh, Gourav Sharma, Jatin Bhasin, Manoj Sharma, Amnish Dutta and Nirvair Singh Bali.