Dubai Health Authority marks World Heart Day 2014

• Lifestyle modification urgent need to prevent young adults from heart attacks.
• Rashid Hospital cardiology department received 1500 cases, of these 900 patients were admitted due to heart attacks. 
• 55 per cent of patients admitted in Rashid Hospital’s cardiology department in 2013 are less than 55 years.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, 24 September, 2014:  His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), inaugurated today the DHA’s World Heart Day campaign 2014, at the DHA headquarters.

The campaign, which was organised in conjunction with Dubai Police, Dubai Ambulance, Novartis and Samsung; is aimed to reach out to the public to educate them about the importance of lifestyle modifications to avoid developing cardiovascular disease( CVD). The campaign is in line with the World Heart Federation’s global campaign to mark World Heart Day 2014.

Adopting this year’s global theme:  ‘Creating heart-healthy environments, the authority is educating the public about the importance of creating a healthy environment at their homes and workplaces but making simple healthy choices such as keeping healthy food handy, drinking lots of water, tobacco cessation, etc.

Al Maidoor said: “Preventive healthcare is an important aspect of the Dubai Health Strategy 2013-2025 and health education plays a vital role. Globally, CVD is known to be the leading cause of mortality and eighty per cent of premature deaths due to CVD are preventable if people follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco and undertake regular health screenings. Therefore, awareness campaigns to reach out to the public are essential; especially to tackle lifestyle related diseases. It is emotionally, financially and medically beneficial for family members to make heart-healthy choices rather than suffer from the consequences of heart disease. Our aim is to educate them on how easy and effective these simple choices are.”

As part of this campaign, DHA cardiologists and specialists conducted free tests for blood sugar, blood pressure, BMI, full lipid profile and HBAIC(3 month average blood sugar test.) After the results of the test are obtained, DHA physicians provide free consultation for visitors. The campaign, will take place across different venues in Dubai including hospitals and labour camps to reach out to the community.

Dr Fahad Baslaib, Head of the Cardiology Department at Rashid Hospital said:  “A majority of the cases of CVDs can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle and avoiding tobacco. We find that a significant number of young people are being admitted in our hospitals for CVDs. As per 2013 statistics, 1500 people were admitted to Rashid Hospital for CVDs, and out of these, more than 900 people were admitted due to heart attacks. Fifty-five per cent of these patients were less than 55 years of age.”

He added: “If we analyse our registries have a significant number of patients in their early 30s and 40s with heart attacks- this figure is ten years younger than the average global age.  This in itself should be a call for people to realise the importance of taking care of their health.”

Dr Nooshin Bazargani, Cardiologist at Dubai Hospital, said “The UAE has a high prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension -all factors that can trigger heart attacks. Given these statistics and the fact that people are still hooked-on to unhealthy foods and do not exercise regularly, we have an issue at hand and everyone needs to take responsibility so that we  can have a healthier society.”

Dr Hanan Obaid, Head and Acute and Chronic Diseases Unit at DHA PHC sector advocated the importance of regular screening and said that the first screening should begin at 20 years of age and should include blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid profile and BMI screening. “If any of the results are abnormal, screening should be frequent. If the results are normal, cholesterol needs to be screened once every five years and blood pressure every two years,” she said.

She added that after the age of 35, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure should be tested at least once every year because in this region heart diseases occur at a younger age. If results are abnormal, screening should be more frequent.

The DHA will carry out free comprehensive screenings to mark World Heart Day 2014.  Tomorrow the awareness campaign will take place at Nad Al Hammar PHC, followed by the remaining 13 PHCs. It will take place on the 29th at Dubai Ambulance headquarters, on 30th at Dubai Hospital, on 2nd October at Rashid Hospital, on 8th October at Dubai Police headquarters, on the 9th and 10th of October it will take place at Al Quoz and Sonapur labour camp, on 20th October it will take place at Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport, on the 26th it will take place at Dubai Municipality and 27th at Road and Transport Authority.

For more information, please contact the DHA helpline no 800 342.