South Asians more prone to cardiovascular diseases: Kayani

ISLAMABAD

South Asians are biologically more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as the size of their arteries is comparatively shorter than the people of the West and other regions, said renowned cardiologist Maj Gen (r) Azhar Mahmood Kayani on Monday.
Kayani, who is chief executive of Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, was delivering a lecture on “Cardio Vascular Diseases and Preventive Measures” at National University of Modern Languages (NUML).
A number of students and faculty members attended the lecture.
He said Ischemic heart diseases were the number one killer epidemic in Pakistan as around 7.1 million people died in 2004 only because of them.
He said there were four areas of heart where a problem could be dangerous. Those were arteries, valves, muscles and electrical system.
A disorder with anyone of them could cause a heart problem. CVD were diseases of arteries, he added. Kayani said 30 percent of the patients, who suffered a heart attack, had no symptoms and died suddenly, while 60 percent managed to reach hospital.
He said some pre-emptive preventive measures could reduce the deaths of 30 percent patients, as they could be rushed to a nearby cardiology centre.
A small hand kit, which could be bought for a little money, could save a person from dying of a sudden heart attack, he added.
Kayani said the handy `kit’ comprised tablets of Disprin and Angisid (four each) and a Deponit NT5 skin patch.
He elaborated, “One is likely to be suffering from a heart attack, if he/she feels sudden stiffness, pain in the middle of the chest, and irritation in left arm or on both sides of neck along with sweating and uneasiness.”
In such a situation, crash measures were required to be taken, including chewing and swallowing one Disprin tablet immediately, keeping one Angisid tablet under the tongue and peeling of the thin plastic side of Deponit NT5 skin patch and sticking its medicated hard side on the left side of the chest, near the armpit at hairless area, he added.
He said the items of the kit cost a little and it could save a person of dying from heart attack without any specific expert handling.
He explained different diagnosis tests, precautionary advises, diet patterns, exercises and does and don’ts for long healthy life for the potential heart patients.
He also answered questions raised by faculty members and students and suggested them to spread the message.
The lecture was also attended by Rector Maj Gen (r) Masood Hasan, Director General (DG) Brig (r) Azam Jamal and other officials of the university.
DG Brig Azam Jamal presented University shield to Maj Gen (r) Azhar
Mahmood Kayani and expressed gratitude for educating the students, faculty members and staff of the university on heart diseases.