Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo today on the occasion of ‘World Heart Day’ said that heart ailments contribute highest number of deaths globally but the same can be prevented by adopting certain lifestyle changes.The FC was addressing healthcare professionals here through video conferencing. Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo was present on the occasion.Renowned cardiologist, Dr Upendra Koul, famous in the field of interventional cardiology was invited this year to share his expertise with local doctors and give free consultation to patients at far off places here.Dulloo revealed that studies have shown a link between cardiovascular diseases (CVD)and Covid-19, therefore taking care of the heart has attained greater significance today than ever. Quoting WHO, Dulloo said, CVD takes lives of 17.9 million people each year and it is responsible for 31% of all global deaths, so any intervention can help in saving many human lives if taken in right earnest.The Financial Commissioner further added that CVD (Cardio vascular diseases) are estimated to cause around 35-45% of all mortalities in the Valley and the overall prevalence of CVD in Kashmir is about 7 to 10%.He said that our novel initiatives like ‘ER Care' and ‘Save Heart' in the region are meant to address the same issues and deal with CVD cases in the golden hour utilizing technology.Showing satisfaction he said the good thing is that most of the heart diseases are largely preventable by simply adopting healthy lifestyle choices.
He elucidated that there are a number of ways one can take his health into his own hands by observing certain precautions and actions.Dulloo gave up that some of the modifiable risk factors include use of tobacco,unhealthy diet, large intake of salt, physical inactivity, unhealthy consumption of alcohol. He maintained that if the mentioned things are not kept in control by individuals, it could result in high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose and obesity, all of which risks a good heart health.Emphasizing he said that need of the hour is to get active.He advised that at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week is necessary for good heart health.He further asked to make it habit to take only healthy fats, snap out of sedentary life style, avoid smoking, shed excess weight, avoiding over-eating and experiencing good sleep are tested prophylaxis against keeping heart ailments at bay.Enumerating the measures taken by government he said, “Up gradation of emergency rooms at DH and SDH level, provision of clot buster drugs in emergency rooms and availability of antiarrhythmic drugs to control arrhythmias at remotest places are already in place”. Further he said that skill up gradation of manpower and expansion of health infrastructure are also on priority for current dispensation.Pertinent to mention here that the theme for this years World Heart Day is "Use heart to beat CVD".Meanwhile Dr Upendra Koul is conducting free health camps at the far of places herein valley. He is scheduled to hold a free check-ups and treatment of patients today at Kupwara and tomorrow at border area Machil of this frontier district. As part of the initiative Dr Koul is also going to reach out to patients of many villages in coming few days.