TRADITIONALLY, THE month of February is celebrated as Heart Month by The Heart Foundation of Jamaica. In this the 31st year of its existence, The Foundation continues to work towards the prevention and early detection of heart disease.
In Jamaica, two of the leading causes of heart disease are hypertension (sustained elevation of blood pressure) and coronary heart disease, which results from atherosclerosis (so called 'hardening and narrowing') of the arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle.
Rheumatic heart disease, largely a disease of children who had had a sore throat caused by streptococcus ('strep throat'), is still very much in evidence in Jamaica and remains a major contributor to the pool of persons who are in need of cardiac surgery.
Cardiomyopathy, a primary disease of the heart muscle, is also fairly frequently seen in both men and women. In some cases the cause is known, as in alcoholic cardiomyopathy, but in most cases the exact causes are unknown.
Congenital heart disease, resulting from incomplete or abnormal development of the heart during foetal life, has been declining largely as a result of the prevention of German measles in pregnant women. This is one of the many outstanding successes of our immunisation programme.
Heart disease continues to exact a heavy toll on the lives of too many individuals and their families. It is indeed, the leading cause of death in our country. This is so, despite the range of therapeutic measures which are available to our people. This is true, even for heart failure usually the end stage of heart disease.
The added tragedy is that much of the burden of heart disease can be lessened and even prevented. For instance, adequate treatment of the 'strep throat' in children and the use of prophylactic antibiotics against subsequent attacks, will virtually eliminate the suffering from rheumatic heart disease. The effective management of hypertension by patient and medical practitioner, will reduce, to a considerable extent, the many perils of this disorder.
Coronary heart disease, which presents with heart attacks and other cardiac disorders, was seldom seen in this country until the 1960's. Since then, its phenomenal increase is largely due to our increasingly westernised style of living. In addition, poorly controlled hypertension and diabetes, also result in an acceleration of the atherosclerotic process.
Reduction of fat intake and other healthy dietary practices, sustained physical activity on a regular basis (for example, daily brisk walks), reduction of cigarette smoking and the maintenance of ideal levels of cholesterol, can lead to a considerable reduction of heart attacks in our communities. Furthermore, these measures also hold the potential for reducing the impact of other major chronic diseases on the lives of our citizens.
- Dr.Knox E. Hagley, chairman, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica
