Marked increase in heart diseases among young adults – Consultant

There is a significant increase in the number of deaths and admissions of both male and females between the ages of 18-28 and 29 to 39 to Government

hospitals due to Ischemic heart diseases, as per the latest unpublished data of the Health Ministry’s Medical Statistics Unit.

Non-Communicable Diseases Director, Consultant Community Physician, Dr.Sherine Balasingham speaking at the media conference held yesterday (27) at the Health Promotion Bureau said unhealthy food habits, tobacco usage, liquor consumption, lack of exercise, stress and air pollution have been identified as the main reasons for this.

World Heart Day is observed on September 29 each year. According to the World Health Organization cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, taking an estimated nearly 18 million lives each year.

As per the statistics of the Health Ministry, during the past 10 years, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in Sri Lanka as well,

According to 2020 statistics, more than 52 percent of deaths reported in government hospitals were due to Ischemic heart diseases also called coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease, is the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart (coronary) arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that affect blood flow and the blood vessels in the brain. Problems with blood flow may occur from blood vessels narrowing (stenosis), clot formation (thrombosis), artery blockage (embolism), or blood vessel rupture (hemorrhage) remained as the fifth main cause of death in 2020.

While stressing the importance of having a healthy diet to prevent cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases, Dr Balasingham said that a person should have no more than 5g of salt a day and 30 g of sugar a day.

Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Health policies that create conducive environments for making healthy choices affordable and available are essential for motivating people to adopt and sustain healthy behaviours.

Dr. Balasingham further said that around 1020 healthy lifestyle centres have been established islandwide to provide opportunities for both male and female above age 35 to have their regular medical checkups which includes High Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar levels, cholesterol levels. These centres will also make the public aware about the risk factors for non communicable diseases.

Consultant Cardiologist Dr.Anidu Pathirana said that the effects of behavioural risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. These “intermediate risk factors” can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.

Dr. Pathirana said that both chest pain and shortness of breath can signal a heart attack. Pain and tightness can also radiate in other areas of the body. Most people associate a heart attack with pain working its way down the left arm. That can happen, but pain can also appear in other locations, including: upper abdomen, shoulder, back, neck, throat, teeth or jaw.

He further stressed the importance of Basic Life Supports (BLS) to prevent deaths due to heart attacks.

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