NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Disheartening News

The number of young cardiac patients in the country is frighteningly high

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Contrary to popular belief that diseases like cardiac ailments affect only people over the age of 40 or so, a large percentage of young Nepalis are suffering from such illnesses.

According to renowned cardiac specialist Dr. Awani Bhusan Upadhyaya, 16 percent of Nepalese below the age of 45 suffer from some kind of heart disease. The figure seems disturbing when compared to the statistics of western countries. In countries like the United States and Britain, only 2 to 5 percent of the population below that age suffer from similar ailments, according to Dr. Upadhyaya.

It is not for nothing that the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that cardiac ailments is going to be the chief public health problem in Nepal by 2020. "When people get affected by this disease young and while they are economically active with responsibilities for the family, it will have adverse impact on the family as well as the nation," said Dr. Upadhyaya during a program organized last week by the Heart Club Nepal.

Ministry of Health : Concrete steps needed

The club was opened four years ago by a group of heart patients. It provides a meeting place for the patients and has helped in spreading information related to the situation of cardiac problems in the country.

Although there are no official studies about the number of heart patients in the country, unofficial statistics show that the number is growing at an alarming rate.

As Dr. Upadhyaya indicated, 16 percent of the population below the age of 45 are affected by heart disease. The overall average of the heart patients can be anybodyís guess as it is a matter of common fact that more percent of people above the age of 45 would be suffering from cardio-vascular diseases. If appropriate steps are not taken immediately, the problem will assume epidemic proportions in urban as well as rural areas, warn experts.

Cardiac diseases are one of the major problems of the country, with many of these illnesses requiring surgical intervention. The consequences of the diseases are irrecoverable, as most of the patients are of the productive age group who have to earn for their family, according to reports.

Most of the patients come from the poor and middle classes who cannot afford the expensive treatments. Many Nepalese who can afford to, go to other countries, particularly India, for treatment.

Inside the country, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Bir Hospital, Medicare National Hospital and Norvic Hospital provide facilities for the treatment of heart disease. These hospitals are equipped with modern facilities including Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU). The government-run hospitals like TUTH and Bir Hospital also provide open-heart surgery facilities.

However, the available facilities are in short supply given the high volume of patients. Doctors recommend sound preventive measures as the best solution, although the curative aspects cannot be overlooked. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of heart disease greatly. It is said to cause 17 percent of all cardiovascular deaths, mostly among the people above the age of 65.

As cardiac ailments pose a great threat to public health, the authorities need to focus on both preventive as well as curative aspects to bring down the frighteningly high number of heart patients.