WORLD HEART DAY – SEPTEMBER 29
Dr Saji Kuruttukulam
Head, Cardiology Department,
Medical Trust Hospital
During this World Heart Day, September 29, it is time that we should think of popularising treatment for Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD). A joint effort is needed from all those are functioning in this area to make the treatment more effective.
Let’s think of making a new initiative in the health sector for a drastic change in CVD treatment. Ayurveda, naturopathy and other traditional treatment methods too are now available for cardio treatment along with the modern treatment.
Steps should be taken to study the treatment methods followed by each sector and the good practices followed by them should be used for CVD treatment. This will help in reducing the treatment cost for patients as well as more comfort for them.
We should avoid the treatment methods followed by the Western countries and try to follow the practical methods. World Heart Day was observed from 2001 onwards by World Heart Federation (WHF) aimed at creating an awareness on health protection especially heart diseases.
Each year WHF selects a subject and create awareness how to overcome the disease. Expert cardiologists, organisations, NGO’s who are members of the WHF are actively participating in reducing global disease burden along with providing expert treatment.
The large number of the population are now affected with heart diseases. As per the survey of World Health Organisation (WHO), around 30 percent of the death is caused by heart diseases. The survey in 2005 says that 1.73 crore people die every year due to heart diseases.
The main reason for heart diseases are due to high blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, mental tension, hereditary diseases, consumption of alcohol, unhealthy foods habits and lack of physical exercise. Kidney diseases, diabetes, lack of sleep and arthritis also increase the possibility of heart diseases.
The presence of D reactive protein in blood, pollution through environment and food can also lead to disease. Regular health check ups and a healthy lifestyle could control heart disease.
The treatment for a heart patient should be decided focusing on the individual. Now all the modern treatment are available here. The life expectancy and child death rate in Kerala is almost same as that of the developed country like USA.
The Government initiative by Chiss Karunya Treatment project for the poor is laudable. We should make sure that the insurance protection should reach more people.
Awareness should be created from the school level for waste management and lifestyle diseases. CVD is not a heart disease, it is also a lifestyle disease. Rather than illness day medicine the practice of wellness day medicine should be followed.
The bond between the doctor an d patient should be strengthened. This can be achieved through open communication between the two.
More efforts and facilities is needed to increase the research activities in medical field. A Kerala Model in treatment could achieved through the joint effort by the treatment methods available in Kerala. A study should be conducted in this regard and implement projects in this regard.