Hearts can be saved, say cardiologists

Chitwan, Sept 29: While World Heart Day is being observed today, cardiologists, expressing their concerns over the increasing cases of heart diseases lately, suggest that if we pay attention to diet and lifestyle, we can save ourselves from heart-related ailments. 

Dr Mani Gautam, cardiologist at Bharatpur Hospital, advised that one should keep track of the health of one's family whether or not they have any heart-related disease. According to him, people with high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are more at risk of heart disease.

Dr Gautam said, "We can save ourselves from heart diseases by identifying the risk factor." He suggested improving unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking alcohol and paying attention to exercise, reducing obesity and stress, managing diabetics, cholesterol, and high blood pressure by taking regular medication to protect ourselves from heart diseases. 

Furthermore, he advises to manage cardiac asthma and congenital diseases. "If we pay attention on time, we can prevent heart diseases and if even we have it, we can save ourselves from it," he observed. 

Similarly, Dr Shankar Laudari, a cardiologist at Chitwan Heart Hospital, argued that heart disease could be avoided if we take preventive measures against heart disease. 

"If there is an addiction to smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, it should be stopped. One can return to the previous state in a year or two of refraining from this addiction but if the heart disease aggravates, it will be difficult to return to normal regular state," Dr Laudari warned.

Laudari cautioned that the risk of heart disease could go up due to intake of excessive and prescribed medicines and a lack of physical exercises. Hence, he suggested eating a little more fruits, vegetables, protein, and foods with anti-oxidant properties and reducing portions of c carbohydrates, and fatty foods to reduce the risk of heart diseases.

The doctor informed that air pollution could be considered to be a factor in heart disease.

Dr Vishnumani Dhital at Chitwan Medical College, recommended to identity the common symptoms of heart disease and treat it timely. According to him, long-lasting pain in the middle part of the chest, a feeling of heaviness in the chest while climbing uphill or some physically demanding tasks and the feeling of something pressing the chest hard were the symptoms of heart disease. 

Cardiologists urged people to consult the doctors as soon as the symptoms of heart disease appear.

Cardiovascular services were available only in Kathmandu Valley until a few years ago. The services have been gradually expanded across the country including Chitwan. 

Health facilities also have cardiac Catheterization laboratories which provide immediate medical intervention in case of heart attack. (RSS)