World Heart Day was celebrated all over the world last Friday amid reports that at least 80 per cent of the premature deaths (because of cardiovascular diseases) can be prevented by controlling four main risk factors such as unhealthy diet, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and use of alcohol.
It is a campaign established to spread awareness about the health of the heart among common people all over the world. This initiative was founded in the year 2000 to inform people to take care of their heart.
A huge percentage of the common public in the society is suffering from heart diseases like stroke, heart attack, heart failure and others. Heart problems are the leading causes of death in the world.
According to the World Heart Federation, heart related problems and deaths can be solved by the active involvement of the common public through the campaign on World Health Day. Various governmental and private organisations, including NGOs all around world are working to spread the awareness of CVD (cardio vascular disease – the world’s number one killer).
According to statistics, approximately 17.3 million people died of cardiovascular diseases in 2005.
In such a serious situation, the World Heart Federation is a hope to prevent and control heart ailments through proper awareness campaigns and actions. Heart health and disease related information and ideas are shared among people for disease prevention and control through the promotion of healthy diets, physical activities, tobacco and alcohol-free living, including healthy life style.
Why Celebrate World Heart Day
World Heart Day is celebrated all across the world to reduce the number of deaths because of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. It is an international campaign to spread awareness among the common public to save and motivate them to live with healthy heart.
According to WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the reason of around 30 per cent deaths of all global deaths. Some of the most dangerous risk factors leading to heart disease and stroke are high blood pressure, high level of bad cholesterol, increased glucose level, smoking habit, inadequate intake of diet, fruit and vegetables, increased weight, and obesity.
It is a day when people realise overeating, unhealthy diets, lack of exercises, bad life style and others cause heart ailments. It brings some hope to people that heart problems can be prevented and controlled for a whole lifetime by following healthy life style.
The main aim of the World Heart Day is to improve global heart health by encouraging people for lifestyle changes and gaining knowledge about ways to be good to the heart. There is a target by WHO to reduce non-communicable disease mortality rate by 2025 by reducing the premature deaths because of cardiovascular diseases.
Facts to know about blood pressure
What is Blood Pressure?
Your heart acts as a pump to circulate blood around your body and help supply it with oxygen. Blood pressure is the force needed for the heart to push blood through the arteries. The highest pressure in this cycle is when the heart contracts, this is called the SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE.
Between contractions, the heart relaxes and blood flows into it since it is at its lowest pressure, which is called DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE.
Both blood pressure readings, the systolic and diastolic, are necessary to enable a doctor to evaluate the status of a patient’s blood pressure.
What is normal blood Pressure?
Everyone has a different blood pressure, but the recognised upper values for normal blood pressure are: Systolic up to 140mmHg and Diastolic up to 90mmHg.
Facts about high blood pressure
Chief Medical Director, Haven hospital, Lagos, Dr. Adeshina Adebamiro, says the discovery that you have high blood pressure is more often than not a chance finding.
According to him, people with high blood pressure usually feel well and there may be no external signs or symptoms of the condition unless the blood pressure has been high for some time or complications may affect the heart, kidney, brain and other important organs.
“They may bring on ill health and affect your enjoyment of life. It is because of these complications, rather than the high blood pressure itself, that this condition is taken so seriously today. It is important to remember that the higher your blood pressure, the higher the risk of heart disease or stroke,” he says.
He further says that high blood pressure is sometimes referred to as raised blood pressure, elevated blood pressure or hypertension.
Some people with this condition may require long-term drug treatment, usually in the form of tablets. However, others can lower their blood pressure by other means such as changing their diet and lifestyle.
What causes high blood pressure?
“Blood pressure is only classed as high if it does not go down when you rest. Permanently raised blood pressure can be caused by several factors and is linked to other medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney and heart diseases.
Your blood pressure is affected by your lifestyle and important contributing factors are:
Being overweight
Having a high cholesterol level
Drinking too much alcohol
Eating too much salt
Not eating enough fruit and vegetables
Not exercising enough
How can it be reduced?
The good news is that while blood pressure can’t actually be cured, it can be treated. Depending on your blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe medication for you to take and you may be encouraged to make some changes to your lifestyle.
These will assist the treatment and further reduce your blood pressure:
Lose any excess weight and try to lower your cholesterol level by reducing the fat content in your diet. In particular, you should cut down on animal fats and eat, at least, five portions of fruits or vegetables per day.
Don’t add salt to food
Reduce and spread your alcohol intake.
Take more exercise. (Please ask medical advice first). This can help to lower your blood pressure and also help you to lose weight and reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Don’t smoke. Smoking causes your arteries to narrow and is the biggest risk factor for having a heart attack.
Measure your blood pressure regularly and keep a record of it.
Medication: Your doctor may prescribe drugs for you if your blood pressure is too high. Make sure you understand the dosage instructions and follow them religiously. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
