Balanced diet, exercise and 8 hours of sleep can keep heart attacks at bay: CSH

Canadian Specialist Hospital conducted free checkups and consultations for over 2000 visitors on the occasion of ‘World Heart Day’

Dubai, UAE, September 29th, 2014: Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), one of the leading private sector hospitals in the UAE, stated that heart attacks can be prevented by following a balanced diet, exercising regularly along with 7-8 hours of quality sleep. CSH ushered in ‘World Heart Day’ by conducting free checkups, consultations and other programs at the hospital. 

Dr. Yahya Kiwan, Consultant Cardiologist, Canadian Specialist Hospital said that, “The main message that this event aims to propagate is that at least 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) can be curtailed if four key risk factors – usage of tobacco, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diet - are controlled. Heart disease and stroke are the world’s major causes of death claiming over 17 million lives each year”.

“Heart related diseases are the leading cause of premature deaths and to prevent it, various levels of awareness campaigns to educate the public are essential. It is important that adult family members lead a healthy lifestyle as their choices influence children. By establishing a healthy lifestyle among children from a young age, we can ensure that they carry these healthy habits into adulthood, thus ensuring a healthier future generation,” added                             Dr. Yahya.

As per the WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths globally as more people die annually from CVDs than any other cause. Also 80% of CVD deaths take place in lower and middle income countries and both men and women are equally affected. It is predicted that by 2030 the number of people who die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke, will surge to 23.3 million. Around 9.4 million deaths occur each year and 16.5% of all deaths can be associated to high blood pressure. This includes 51% of death by strokes and 45% deaths attributed to coronary heart disease. 

“Balanced lifestyle is now more a thing of the past until somebody takes conscious efforts to take care of their individual health. The world has whole heartedly adopted the ‘fast food’ lifestyle and put exercise on the back burner. The sedentary lifestyle coupled with excess calories is a great recipe for cardiovascular diseases. Regular health check-up is also something ignored by majority of the people,” added Dr. Yahya.

During the World Heart Day event, visitors at the hospital underwent free health screenings which included random blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol test. There were two “Ask the Expert” sessions with cardiologists, where queries regarding heart health were asked and resolved. Also educational material was distributed among the visitors to gain an in-depth understanding of heart related issues. To make the event popular among the visitors especially kids, the hospital organized a paining competition with a heart theme. 

Canadian Specialist Hospital provides a wide range of medical services and houses some of the most advanced surgical facilities in Dubai. Continuous development and investment in technology, medical expertise and support facilities have contributed to the hospital’s current stature as one of the preeminent medical institutions in the Middle East.