Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is promoting good heart health by reminding residents of Qatar to make healthy choices to protect themselves from heart ailments on the occasion of World Heart Day (WHD).
WHD is marked annually on September 29 and provides an opportunity for people around the globe to play their role in fighting cardiovascular disease (CVD), a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. HMC’s Heart Hospital is hosting an event to highlight the day and raise awareness of maintaining good heart health among staff, patients and hospital visitors.
CVD is the world’s number one cause of death. According to the World Health Organisation, 31% of all global deaths occur due to different kinds of cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, chairman, cardiothoracic surgery at Heart Hospital, explained that CVD can be prevented by learning about the common risk factors and addressing them as early as
possible.
“Heart attacks and strokes mainly occur due to a blockage in blood flow to the heart or brain. This is most commonly due to the build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels taking blood to and from the heart and brain,” Dr al-Khulaifi said.
“A combination of risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, lack of physical activity, hypertension and diabetes are considered to be the leading causes of CVD,” he said, adding that simple changes in diet and lifestyle can make a huge
difference.
The focus of this year’s WHD is on creating healthy heart environments, urging individuals to make the right choices for their heart health.