It is increasing prosperity and mechanised life style along with consumption of increasingly rich diet that is responsible for the present day heart disease epidemic. Abdominal obesity is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases. Today, cardiology probably is the most developed and organised medical speciality in Pakistan and the prevention of cardiovascular disease is our only hope for the healthier future.
The incidence of heart diseases is rising in our society. According to World Health Organisation's projected figures South Asia will have the highest incidence of heart diseases by the year 2010.
Increased abdominal girth is an important risk factor, called trunal or abdominal obesity common in our society. This predisposes us to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It also reflects poor eating habit and lack of physical activities and this probably is the main cause of heart diseases in our population. Physical activities have to be encouraged in early years of life to avoid abdominal obesity.
Unfortunately most of the modem schools in our cities and towns have no play grounds and open places, thereby, predisposing our future generation to abdominal obesity and heart diseases.
There is a dire need for creating play grounds and parks in our localities. Our food should contain less fats and with the increase of age one should walk at least 20 to 30 minutes a day at a reasonably brisk pace.
The role of print and electronic media in creating awareness among the general public for preventing these diseases is necessary. Food products should be labelled appropriately with the ingredients' names.
The concerned authorities should arrange introduction of public awareness programmes at various parts. Along with creating awareness there is a need to develop facilities for the treatment of heart disease. The guidelines for the quantity and quality of fat intake by individuals must be provided by doctors to their patients. We should consume vegetable oil instead of desi ghee and banaspati ghee and only a maximum of 30 percent calories from fat. We must highlight the issue of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity. Watching the waist line is one of the best way to tackle the disease. According to a study where more than 50 percent of the heart patients in the western world had increased abdominal girth, excellent results were seen in the patients after following few months of exercise programme.
The evolution of the sedentary life style and introduction of fast food are among the major causes of heart disease along with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Therefore changing life style according to the need of the day and light exercises from the early age are some of the preventive measures against this deadly disease.
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