New heart centre targets South Asian newcomers
People of South Asian descent are three to five times more likely to have a heart attack and die from cardiovascular disease than people of any other race. They are also more likely to develop severe heart disease 10 years earlier than Caucasians, often without prior symptoms or warning.
Newcomers who settle in Canada tend to work very hard and don’t watch their heart health, explains Dr. Sudheer Sharma.
The Edmonton cardiologist and other health professionals hope to reduce the local South Asian community’s risk for health disease by getting the word out about the importance of exercise, a hearthealthy diet and not smoking.
Last week the CK Hui Heart Centre at the Royal Alexandra Hospital launched a South Asian Heart Health Initiative targeting the 50,000 people in Edmonton from countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka — believed to be the city’s largest ethnic group — to raise their awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke and prevention through a healthier lifestyle.
The South Asian Heart Health Initiative is the second phase of the Multicultural Heart Health Awareness Program. The first phase was the Chinese Heart Health Initiative, launched for Edmonton’s Chinese community in 2009. This program — then the first of its kind in Canada — reached out to young and old through community events, health fairs, public lectures, school visits and contests, radio and print.
The South Asian Heart Health Initiative’s first free public education event will be held this Saturday, Feb. 4, starting at 11 a.m., at the Mirage Banquet, 8170 50th St. To register or for more information go to ckhuiheartcentre.com or call 780-735-5804.
Dr. William Hui, chief of cardiology at the Royal Alex, is confident the multicultural awareness program is making a difference in the heart health of the city, noting that cardiologists treating heart disease can only help one patient at a time. But the promotion of heart health awareness and healthy lifestyles helps the whole population.