Health experts predicted that by year 2020 mortality associated with coronary artery disease will increase by at least two fold in South Asia, which is experiencing an epidemic of coronary artery disease and diabetes, said a statement here on Friday.
"Urbanisation with changing life style, lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet are the key factors responsible for rise in disease burden," said Dr Syed Najaf Nadeem, Assistant Professor and Consultant Cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi.
Dr Nadeem was giving a presentation on "Heart Attack- Prevention and Treatment" at the 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', a health awareness programme, held on Friday in Hyderabad.
Explaining the process of the narrowing of coronary arteries, he said deposits of cholesterol-rich material in the blood vessels cause this narrowing.
"Formation of a clot on top of these blockages leads to a health attack and 50 percent of patients, who suffer the heart attack do not survive; in fact they do not even make it to the hospital," he added.
Early recognition of symptoms and immediate treatment is of prime importance to save heart muscle from irreversible damage.
"Time means muscle", Aspirin and blood thinners/ clot dissolving medications should be initiated as soon as possible. Appropriate use of beta-blockers (agents optimising heart rate and rhythm) and statins (cholesterol lowering agents) has significantly reduced death rate after a heart attack.
Coronary angiogram is the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. It provides vital information about the extent and severity of disease.
Coronary angioplasty is a therapeutic procedure, which involves opening of the blockages with a balloon and placement of metallic tube called stent.
"Recent use of medicated stent has dramatically reduced the chances of repeat narrowing to minimum. Many more patients previously managed with coronary artery bypass surgery can now be treated with coronary angioplasty with comparable success rates.
Another innovation in the technique is the use of radial artery at wrist to perform the procedure. It not only substantially reduces the risk of bleeding from access site, but also permits immediate mobilisation and enhanced patient comfort, with no need for prolonged bed rest as required previously.-PR
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