World Heart Day: focus on women and children

Dubai: The simple logic behind healthy children lead to healthy adults and later to healthy families and communities is the message driving World Heart Day activities around the world on Sunday.

In the UAE, an array of free screening camps is being held.

The Day, observed annually on September 29 and held in conjunction with World Heart Federation (WHF) and World Health Organisation (WHO), focuses on the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The reasoning behind targeting children say the WHF and WHO is many serious diseases in adulthood have roots in adolescence, leading to illness or premature death later in life. Good habits instilled in childhood continue into adulthood. As a result, children are less likely to develop heart diseases and diabetes as adults.

The observance also aims to bust the myth that heart disease and stroke only affect older, male, rich populations. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 female deaths, and children are vulnerable too.

According to more figures by the WHF and WHO, cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, take lives prematurely, causing 17.3 million deaths each year.

By 2030, 23 million people are expected to die from CVDs annually.

The four-fold message for the day is to get active, eat a heart-healthy diet, say 'no' to tobacco, and know your numbers (like weight, glucose level, cholesterol and blood pressure).

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Obaid Al Jassim, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Dubai Hospital and the Head of the hospital's Cardiothoracic Surgery Department said women and children are also at risk of heart disease and should take preventive action.

Endorsing the heart-healthy behaviour promoted by the World Heart Day, he said women and children should avoid CVD risk factors.

Specific to children, Dr Al Jassim explained the risk for CVDs can happen in the womb and increase as the child grows due to unhealthy habits like poor diet and exercise.

"Children should be encouraged to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Further they shouldn't be exposed to tobacco smoke," said Dr Al Jassim.

Women in particular should take care of their health so they can better care for their family and children, said Dr Nooshin Bazargani, consultant cardiologist with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

"It is important that women and children stay active. Obesity, diabetes coupled with a lack of physical activity increases the chances of developing heart disease. About 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week is recommended. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables can help prevent heart disease. Further tobacco either first-hand smoke or second-hand should be avoided so as to reduce the risk of heart disease," Dr Bazargani said.

Physical activity is not about exercise – any kind moderate activity brisk walking can significantly benefit your heart, she said. "Childhood obesity is becoming more and more prevalent in boys and girls. This is due to unhealthy lifestyle which includes lack of physical activity."

source: gulfnews.com