Adopt healthy lifestyle, prevent heart attacks, advise doctors

dubai — Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. Every year, over 17 million people die of heart disease and this is expected to hit 24 million by 2030.

Sadly, heart attacks often affect people at the height of their professional careers, with severe social, economic and vocational consequences. “Although recent pharmaceutical and technological advances have improved the outcome of patients with heart attacks, the suddenness with which a heart attack develops and takes its victim by surprise poses a significant barrier for any timely medical intervention,” said Dr Abdul Rauoof, specialist cardiologist, PrimaCare Speciality Clinic, Bur Dubai.

Almost half of heart attack deaths happen within one hour, before the person can get to or be brought to a hospital. Many of these victims were functioning normally and apparently healthy.

The suddenness with which a heart attack develops poses a significant barrier for any timely medical intervention.” Dr Abdul Rauoof, cardiologist, PrimaCare Speciality Clinic

Epidemiological researchers have identified several biological and social factors that increase heart attack risk. “Fortunately, most of these ‘traditional risk factors’ are modifiable by specific preventive measures,” he said.

A substantial decline in heart attack rates can be achieved through the universal adoption of healthy lifestyle practices, such as regular physical exercise, no smoking and a healthy diet. “Appropriate management of health conditions like hypertension, high blood cholesterol and diabetes has also been found to reduce the risk of heart attack. In addition to these general measures, specific preventive therapies are available that could significantly reduce the risk of heart attack in patients.”

While the estimated ‘relative risk’ of heart attack can be gauged by the number of traditional risk factors present in a patient, a more precise estimation of ‘absolute risk’ is desirable to make treatment recommendations for individual patients.

Scientists have also attempted to use imaging modalities like ultrasonography, computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging to identify abnormalities that may predate a heart attack. While some of these ‘novel biomarkers’ appear promising, these are not ‘prime time’ yet for routine clinical application.

“Estimating an individual’s heart attack risk can potentially provide a window of opportunity to intervene and reduce or eliminate it in apparently healthy people,” Dr Rauoof noted.