'World Heart Day' being observed today

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 29. As many as six million people die of cardiovascular diseases every year in the world. Heart ailments will increase to epidemic proportions the world over by 2015, noted cardiologist, Dr. C. G. Bahuleyan, has said.

Dr. Bahuleyan, who is the head of the Department of Cardiology of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Associate Prof. Sunita, Prof. Sivaprasad and Dr. Najeeb, told presspersons here today that heart ailments have emerged as the main cause for mortality. As many as 12 per cent of the urban and 7 per cent of the rural population in the State are affected by the disease, Dr. Bahuleyan said.

Still the majority of the affected population is unaware of the gravity of the issue and the causative problems. To create public awareness, the Cardiology Department is observing "World Heart Day - 2001" on Sunday with various programmes. September 30 is being observed as World Heart Day since 2000. The World Health Organisation's theme for the day this year is "A heart for life."

Mr. K. Karunakaran, MP, would inaugurate the programmes at the CSIR Hall at Medical College Hospital at 9 a.m.. The Department will be open to the public from 12.30 p.m. The public would get a chance to interact with the senior faculty members and clarify their doubts regarding cardiac diseases.

Short Malayalam lectures on common ailments such as high blood pressure, blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, life style modification for preventing cardiovascular diseases, would be held as part of the programme.

Demonstration of various cardiac investigative and treatment modalities such as Echocardiography, Tread Mill Test, Cardiac Catheterisation, Angiography, Coronary Balloon Angioplasty, Stenting Cardiac Pacing, and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation for cardiac arrest victims would be held, they said.

Dr. Sunita, who is also the district nodal officer of the National Programme for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention commissioned by the Central Government and World Health Organisation, said the knowledge, attitude, practice and survey conducted under the programme among 3,000 families in Kazhakootam among those above 25 years said there was absolute lack of awareness among the public on coronary heart diseases and risk factors.

Only less than 30 per cent of the smokers knew smoking would result in premature heart attack. If this was the scenario in Thiruvananthapuram rural, it is likely to be worst in urban Kerala, she said.

The results of a study conducted by CVDP programme in the Secretariat found that the prevalence was much higher among the staff there. This year the CVDP programme pilot project will observe the World Heart Day with a public meeting at St. Ignatius Church, at Puthenthope in Kadinamkulam. A medical camp and seminar on the coronary problems will also be held in the evening. Mr. M. A. Vahid, MLA, would inaugurate the programme, she said.

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