National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Change In Lifestyle

Once considered a disease of aging rich, heart diseases are affecting more and more people in Nepal due to a change in lifestyle and increase in the smoking habits

By THAKUR AMGAI

Norvic Health Center : Available infrastucture

The number of heart patients has increased considerably in Nepal. According to a data revealed by the Foundation for Control of Heart Diseases, over the last ten years the number of heart patients has increased by 10 to 15 percent in Nepal. Another unofficial report says 35 per cent of the patients who went through cardiac surgery last year were children.

Experts claim, the increment in the number of heart patients accounts to change in lifestyle and increase in the smoking habits.

According to Dr. Shashi Acharya, a cardiologist, smoking doubles the risk for Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD) and sudden cardiac death. In Nepal, there is evidence that among the patients with myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome, more than 80% were smokers.

The major reason for congenital heart diseases is smoking among mothers. The female smoking rate is highest in Nepal than any other part of the world accounting for 73% in the hilly region. WHO statistics reveal that the prevalence of smoking in Nepal among the age group varying from 15 to 30 is more than 70%.

A random survey done among the patients attending the out patient clinic of a hospital, between people of age groups 35 to 75 years, revealed that the prevalence of smoking in female is 50 %( 61 out of122) and the prevalence of smoking in male is 46.15 %( 36 out of 78).

"The growing smoking rate in teens, the high smoking rate in females and males and the effect of passive smoking has definitely become a major problem in our country. Smoking in teens may accelerate the atherosclerotic process in adolescents thereby, making themselves more susceptible to CHD in their near adulthood," said Dr. Acharya.

Smoking accounts for about more than a half million premature annual deaths worldwide. Smoking is a leading and one of the most preventable risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases constitute one of the main causes of deaths in Asia. Approximate figures based on studies by health institutions in the capital show that 24,000 Nepalis are rheumatic heart disease patients. One percent of newborn in Nepal suffer from congenital heart disease. Seventy-five thousand Kathmanduites are living with ischemic heart disease.

The treatment of heart diseases by surgery is very expensive. The cost of cardiac surgery is at least Rs.1,00,000, which is beyond the reach of average Nepali people, many of whom live with an income of less than a dollar a day. "So, prevention of the disease is the main solution to the growing problem," said Dr. Prakash Regmi, a cardiologist at the Bir Hospital.

"In ischemic heart disease, if one practices a lifestyle with no smoking, control of blood pressure and diabetes - the possibility of heart attack is minimum," said Dr. Acharya. Similarly, if expecting mothers avoid smoking and take only prescribed medicines, the risk of a child developing congenital heart disease is less.

The practice of eating food with less cholesterol, doing regular physical exercises and management of work related stresses would help in controlling the heart diseases to a great extent, according to doctors. However, public health experts claim that in absence of proper intervention and programs for raising awareness, the heart diseases will become a big problem in the coming years.

Another major factor affecting the increase in the cases of heart diseases is the change in lifestyle among the urban population. The lack of physical exercise, stress in work and changed eating habits, among others, are the major causes of the increment in the heart diseases. "Distress is one of the major factors that prompts heart diseases," said senior cardiologist Dr. Mrigendra Raj Pande in a Radio Program.

Heart diseases have been the major cause of death worldwide. Heart diseases accounts for 37 percent of the untimely death worldwide.

Rheumatic heart disease is caused due to streptococcus infection of the throat during the early ages, which can be prevented through proper medication and careful hygienic practices.