Damascus-Sana
About 18 million people around the world lose their lives each year due to cardiovascular disease, according to the International Heart Association, which shows that most cases of these diseases occur as a result of lack of physical activity, smoking and unhealthy diet.
Dr. Ghayath Al-Agha, head of the cardiac division at the General Hospital of Damascus, told SANA that cardiovascular deaths account for 30% of all deaths worldwide, although 80% of them can be avoided and reduced risk by abstaining from smoking, controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, exercise and adherence. Diet can be modified and habits can not be avoided in terms of genetics and age.
On the sidelines of a scientific day organized by the Damascus Hospital on the occasion of the World Heart Day, which falls on September 29 of each year, cardiologist Dr. Ziad Nofal explained that prevention is divided into the initiation of any action before the disease and secondary after the injury to reduce complications, pointing out the importance Periodic analyzes of blood lipids “triglycerides and cholesterol” being ranked third for cardiovascular causes.
Recent studies, according to Dr. Alaa al-Masri, a resident of the cardiac division, showed the weak role of aspirin in the initial prevention of cardiovascular disease and that the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding is greater than its usefulness in alleviating vascular thrombotic events.
On the role of obesity in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Al-Hussein explained that obesity and weight gain are the most important risk factors for its wide spread, while Dr. Hassan Ibrahim warned against smoking which raises the risk of coronary and cardiovascular disease and cerebral infarction.
The Department of Cardiology at Damascus Hospital, according to its head, Dr. Ghiath Al-Agha, receives various ambulatory cases from infarction of the heart to the chest diphtheria and others and perform cardiac catheterization and other investigations such as stress testing and echo imaging, where 10 to 12 catheterization and expansion is carried out daily.
The Ministry of Health provides free diagnostic and therapeutic services to cardiac patients through 298 clinics and specialized centers in various governorates.
Ines Svan
