Heart specialists on Saturday said that coronary (heart) disease was a major killer of the 20th century and it would continue to remain so if immediate preventive measures are not adopted by health care service providers.
Speaking on coronary heart disease and predisposing risk factors on Saturday at the monthly programme of the Aga Khan University Hospital, heart specialists said that this disease is a multi-factor disease which develops as a result of interplay between human genes, human behaviour and the environment humans occupy.
Dr Javed Tai, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, said, "We have identified some of the factors that are instrumental in the development of CAD such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, (increased cholesterol, family history of CAD and a sedentary lifestyle.
He said that the cost of treatment is prohibitive and such treatment in the Third World countries remains a problem. He said that preventive measures and a regulated lifestyle are the answer to many causes of the disease.
Managing established CAD is now also considered a 'late step' while prevention is the key.
He said that a much under-utilised treatment modality is diet and exercise.
Dr Amir Hameed, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist at the AKUH, said, "We now have clear evidence that prescribed in a right and timely fashion, these modalities are powerful tools for the prevention and treatment of CAD."
Drs Khawar Kazmi, Sajid Dhakam, Fahim Jafary and Sohail Abrar of AKUH also spoke on the occasion.