Lose your weight this Ramadan. Reduction of weight definitely helps in minimising bad effects of high blood pressure and diabetes – the two major reasons leading to heart attack.
This was the crux of the presentation – ‘Hear Diseases and Heart Attack – Causes, Precautions for Risk Reduction and Control’– given by a cardiologist from Hamad Medical Corporation to the Pakistani community. The interactive session with Dr Tahir Hamid was recently organised by Pakistan Arts Society Qatar (PASQ) to raise awareness among the community regarding risks and prevention for heart attack at Pak Shamaa School auditorium.
The community members, representatives of different community groups and families were present in large numbers. The chief guest on the occasion was Hafiz Junaid Sial, Community Welfare Attachee, Embassy of Pakistan.
Dr Tahir is an assistant professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine –Qatar (WCM-Q), assistant professor of Medicine at Qatar University, College of Medicine, and Associate Program Director for Cardiology fellowship program Fellowship Training (ACGME-I, USA- Program).
With the help of different slides Dr Tahir highlighted that prevention is the only best way to avoid heart attack. He noted that once the attack takes place, there can be multiple complications– if the patient survives. He said: “There are many reasons that can lead to the heart attack. The most significant are cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, alcohol, mental stress and physical inactivity.”
The doctor said that though there are significant reductions in deaths caused by heart attacks due to the advanced technologies and treatments, the number of heart attack continue to grow across the world.
The medical expert laid emphasis on prevention and said that there are many ways that one can avoid the risks of the heart attack. He said: “We should have an active life style. There should be regular exercise in our life. I would urge you to be vegetarians. Avoid oily and deep-fried food. We South Asians love oily and deep-fried food. When one is above 30-years, one needs to keep an eye on cholesterol level that should be checked after every three months. High blood pressure and diabetes are two other things that need to be kept under watch.”
Dr Tahir particularly underlined the significance of Ramadan in controlling food habits and weight control. “This is the best time. Today, we should make a promise to ourselves that each one of us will lose at least six kilogram this Ramadan. If we are able to control our weight, we can maintain our blood pressure and sugar. The heart of the overweight individuals has to work extra to pump blood. Therefore, weight control is the key, and for this Ramadan is the best time.”
Dr Tahir said: “We are very lucky to be in Qatar because here we have very good medical facilities. You can get ambulance in 15 minutes. If the patient reaches at the hospital in time, the survival rate is very high. We need to learn how to provide basic health support that can also help in supporting the patient who suffers from heart attack.”
After his presentation, Dr Tahir took questions from the audience. Most of the questions were related to prevention of heart attack. The doctor said that there are many cases of patients who come with family history of hearth attack. He also answered different questions on post heart attack complications.
Speaking on the occasion, Hafiz Junaid Sial said: “I appreciate PASQ for organising such programmes to raise health awareness.
I think we all have benefited from the presentation. I think heart problems are more linked with our lifestyle that we follow nowadays. We need to make our life simple and show contentment.”
HEALTHY DIET: Dr Tahir Hamid, right, encouraged people to follow a plant-based diet and avoid oily foods during his talk at Pak Shamaa School.
