KT-Thumbay event to shed light on heart disease

dubai — While it’s a known fact that heart disease and heart attacks occur in a relatively younger population in the UAE, seeing a 17-year-old walk into hospital during a heart attack was shocking for health givers.

Recalling an incident where a young Jordanian walked into hospital complaining of chest pain, Dr Mohamed Shehata, consultant interventional cardiologist at Thumbay Hospital, said that the 17-year-old was found to suffer from a heart attack. “He had been having chest pain for a few days when he came in to the hospital in June,” said the doctor.

Test results showed that the patient was suffering from vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels. Tests also showed that the patient’s arteries were blocked. Vasculitis causes changes in blood vessel walls, including thickening, weakening, narrowing or scarring. These changes can restrict blood flow, resulting in organ and tissue damage.

“It was indeed a rare case for us,” said the doctor. He was treated accordingly and put on oral steroids, he added. “Sometimes vasculitis can be inherited, most of the time it is an auto-immune disorder,” said Dr Shehata.

“In this case, the only other risk factor was that the patient was a heavy smoker.”

The youngster was a student and has already left for his home country and is doing well though he has to be on steroids for most of his life.

Khaleej Times will hold an event where experts of Thumbay Hospital will shed light on heart disease on September 29.

Keeping in mind the theme of this year’s World Heart Day, which is marked on September 29 each year, ‘Creating heart healthy environments’, the doctor said that it was important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“There are two issues that can affect heart health, one is the person himself, and secondly it is the job he has or the place where he is living,” said Dr Shehata.

He advised all youngsters to adopt a healthy lifestyle at a very early age and maintain a good weight. “People should also try and keep the environment around them stress free to keep their heart healthy,” he added.

Dr Houcem Amiour, specialist interventional cardiologist at Thumbay Hospital, said that it was important to adopt a healthy diet to keep the heart healthy.

“The Mediterranean diet is ideal since it contains vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil and fruits. It does not contain much meat and if meat is there, it is mostly white meat,” said the doctor.

He said it was all about the food and lifestyle. “If you have a condition, it is recommended that you go for screening. The ideal blood pressure should be 140/90, other risk factors such as sugar levels and lipid levels should also be checked,” he said.

There are two main issues that can affect heart health, one is the person himself, and secondly it is the job he has or the place where he is living.”

Dr Mohamed Shehata, consultant interventional cardiologist, Thumbay Hospital

The Mediterranean diet is ideal since it contains vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil and fruits. It does not contain much meat and if meat is there, it is mostly white meat.”

Dr Houcem Amiour, specialist interventional cardiologist at Thumbay Hospital