Empowering strategies towards a healthy heart
Gulf Times
Aster
We find ourselves at a time where disease once found in the elderly is now seen at a much younger age. This paradox is despite the plethora of information, advanced investigations and treatment options. It makes room to ponder if parameters we aim to correct just happen to account for only the tip of the ‘disease iceberg’.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for 17.9 million deaths annually worldwide. These diseases are associated with risk factors that are non-modifiable (E.g.: Age, sex, ethnicity and family history) and modifiable (Hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, poor diet, sub optimal sleep and stress). It is said that bulk of CVD is preventable if the modifiable risk factors are corrected.
A strict discipline in lifestyle choices complemented by pills and procedures where warranted should be the norm rather that ignoring the former and relying on the belief that all solutions lie in the latter!
In order to fix what went wrong it pays to go back to the drawing board and understand the design and purpose of the marvelously bioengineered human body. The fundamental purpose of the design was to adapt to survive. The physiological adaptation is immediate whereas genetic adaptations are over millions of years. Majority of the modern day diseases stem due to the consequence of ignoring the human design in areas of diet, physical activity, sleep and stress management. The scope of this article due to space constraints will address only key principles of these four pillars of healthy lifestyle.
