Heart disease leading killer of Indonesians

Heart disease leading killer of Indonesians

By D. Amidi

JAKARTA (JP): Gone are the days when heart disease was a rare
affliction in Indonesia and people generally succumbed to old age
and its enfeebling shortcomings. In the 1950s, many people in
Indonesia died quiet and natural deaths. But it was a lot more
peaceful in the capital back then; no frustration from traffic
problems like nowadays, for instance.

Frustration is one of the sources of stress which, in most
cases, is harmful to man's most vital organ, the heart.

On the other hand, it would be impossible to lead a completely
stressless life. Stress, in the good sense of the word, is
necessary to fulfill one's ambitions. However, that is another
story.

Rapid advances in the economy and business over the last two
decades have, in general, not fostered a healthy lifestyle.
Executives, young and old alike, are leading increasingly more
sedentary lives, in which natural actions such as walking and
running have become almost uncommon.

Most people are familiar with the businessman who takes a few
steps to his car in the morning and, upon arrival at his office
building, walks a few steps to enter the elevator, gets out on
floor "x" and heads for his office a few meters away. In his
office overlooking the busy Jl. Sudirman, the business executive
settles down for the better part of the day in his comfortable
chair.

Stress, lack of movement and a faulty diet are major factors
found among an increasing number of people affected by coronary
heart disease in the country. So much so, a household survey held
a few years ago in Jakarta strongly indicated the disease's rise
into first place over other killer maladies in Indonesia.

Although age does play an important factor in contracting the
affliction, it is no longer unusual to find young people who have
become vulnerable to heart attacks because of a much more
breathtaking lifestyle than their older contemporaries had led.

With the country's economic advancement, today's executives
are putting in more work hours and have less rest and recreation
time than businessmen in the 1950s, for instance.

The disease often strikes men aged 30 years and up. It rarely
affects people under 30 years.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) could also eventually lead
to heart disease. People with blood pressure readings ranging
between 150/100 or 150/95 are likely candidates for a coronary
heart attack. People with higher blood pressure readings than
those just mentioned usually suffer a stroke instead of a heart
attack.

Hypertension patients should watch their weight. They should
avoid doing exhausting work which will put a strain on their
heart. This especially will be the case if one is overweight.

Smoking also accelerates plaque formation, which is caused by
carbon monoxide and dioxide gasses and the nicotine of
cigarettes.

Diabetes Mellitus patients suffering from unmanageable blood
sugar levels, even with oral medication or insulin treatment, are
in all likeliness vulnerable to an imbalance of carbohydrate
metabolism, which in turn raises triglyceride counts. This
condition is a potential danger to the heart of a diabetic
patient.

Genetics

Aside from the aforementioned factors, genetics, the
hereditary factor, also comes into play as one of the causes of
heart disease. Research in Europe has strongly suggested that
heart disease in many cases was traceable to a long-running
family condition. There is also what is known as the X-factor,
indicating that a high iron content in the body could lead to
coronary heart disease, according to a Norwegian research study.

Heart attacks are mainly of the angina pectoris or
myocard infarct type. The first affliction is caused by the
narrowing of one or more branches of the coronary blood vessels,
and is accompanied by pains in the chest.

Myocard infarct is a severely painful attack, lasting more
than 20 minutes. It is accompanied by shortness of breath and
cold sweat. In such a condition, the narrowed blood vessel has
been totally obstructed, preventing blood from reaching the heart
tissues.

Prevention

Are there preventive measures to keep heart disease away?
Physical exercise goes a long way in the prevention of cardiac
diseases. However, people aged 35 years and older are better off
exercising in the evening instead of in the morning. This is
because most heart attacks have occurred in the early morning
hours. Research has disclosed that blood tends to clot easier in
the morning hours, approximately between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., which
is caused by low fibrinolitic action.

Before taking up exercising, it is recommended to take a
treadmill test first at a cardiac unit.

A healthy diet of reduced fatty foods could decrease people's
chances of ending up with clogged arteries. Limit intake of
carbohydrates like rice, bread and noodles. Eat more high fiber
foods like cereals and seaweed.

For those who already suffer from heart disease, heavy
exercise would not be commendable. Regular medication under the
supervision of an expert is recommended.

Hypertension patients should not exercise before their blood
pressure is under control.

Diabetics with blood sugar readings in excess of 140 mg after
a two-hourly meal should regularly monitor their blood sugar
levels.

Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels should be regularly
monitored in a heart disease prevention plan, except for those
who are aged 70 or over.

Smokers should check this habit right away.

Last but not least, pray to lessen stress. You would be
surprised to find what praying can do to calm down a stressful
mind. Be grateful for the daily enjoyments God is bestowing upon
you.

What to do in case of a heart attack? In case of an acute
myocardial infarct, the patient should be kept very still.
Movements would only widen the extent of the infarct, which could
lead in turn to heart failure and cardiac arrest.

In case of a heart attack, the patient should be taken to a
hospital and enter the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Myocard infarct patients who are not immediately treated in an
intensive care unit would have their life expectancy reduced by
as much as 85 percent. The mortality rate decreases to 42 percent
when such a patient is entered into an ICU.

The writer is a cardiologist attached to several major
hospitals and a modern health clinic in the heart of Jakarta.