Hearts for Heart – a healthier heart, a healthier life

Friday, 6 September 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Global statistics show that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) kill more than 36 million people annually. Almost 29 million of these deaths, around 80% take place in low and middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka. Local statistics confirm that 71% of all annual deaths in Sri Lanka take place due to chronic NCDs. NCDs cover Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and Chronic Respiratory Diseases – of these, Cardiovascular Disease takes a prominent place. According to Dr. Thalatha Liyanage who heads the NCD Unit at the Ministry of Health, rapid socio demographic along with economic changes have increased the NCD risk in Sri Lanka. Dr. Liyanage and her team, work tirelessly to create awareness of the risk posed by NCDs island-wide. The year 2013 has been declared by the Ministry of Health as the Year of NCDs in order to lay emphasis on the impact of NCDs on the country as a whole. Cardiovascular health is the primary focus of ‘Hearts for Heart’, a Charity Run organised by the Ministry of Sports together with Sirasa TV and Yes FM. The event is supported by the Ministry of Health and is sponsored by Unilever’s brand – Flora. It is scheduled to be held on 08 September 2013 at the Sports Ministry Grounds. ‘Hearts for Heart’ promises to be an event that will highlight the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle at a national level. “Developing cardiovascular disease does not happen overnight,” says Dr. Susi Perera, who heads the Association of Community Physicians. “The blueprint is there within each of us which through the years of childhood, adolescence and youth, develops and matures into a full blown illness, aided by years of bad living, eating wrong kind of food and not exercising.” “As a society, we have learnt to respond to an illness by taking medicine but we must learn to avoid an illness before it occurs. We can easily prevent heart disease by adapting a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right, exercising, limiting the intake of sugar and salt, and not smoking and minimising the intake of alcohol.” Dr. Susi Perera who developed the concept of Super Eight, a practical plan of goals reachable for every individual, says that it is only when aches and pains come that most Sri Lankans think of changing to healthier alternatives. “It doesn’t have to be so – we can start developing a healthier lifestyle early on in life and prevent cardiovascular disease.” Super Eight has emerged as a strong rallying point for healthy living. The Super Eight includes developing a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 – 24.9, which is considered vital for good health. It recommends avoiding excessive salt and engaging in moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes daily; eating five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables everyday and avoiding food that contains trans fat as well as giving up smoking and reducing alcohol consumption; maintaining a normal blood pressure below 140/90 is also included in The Super Eight. “Super Eight gives you achievable goals you can set towards developing a healthy lifestyle, which is very important in keeping heart disease at bay,” says Dr. Perera, “With measurable goals, you can strive to make a difference in your life and the lives of others around you.” With its focus on prevention of heart disease, ‘Hearts for Heart’ will include a 3 km Fun Run for both men and women, a 6km women’s open run, a 9 km open run for men and a cycle ride for those who prefer to ride peddle pushers. All funds generated through Hearts for Heart will be channelled towards the upgrading of the cardiac unit at the Karapitiya Hospital which plays a key role in providing cardiac health services in the southern province. The sponsor brand Flora margarine has pledged 2.5 million to this cause by contributing Rs. 20 from each tub of Flora that is sold during the month of August. For Flora, Hearts for Heart is yet another opportunity to share with Sri Lanka the need to stay healthy and make healthy choices. Participation in this mega charity run only requires an online registration at Flora Sri Lanka on Facebook. www.facebook.com/FloraSriLanka “Flora has consistently been involved in providing a helping hand for a healthy lifestyle initiative that help people make a change in lifestyle and eat healthy in order to avoid CVD and other NCDs,” says Flora Brand Manager Trevine Miranda. Flora has consistently supported and encouraged an active lifestyle. Among its recent endeavours was sponsoring and setting up the cycle booth at the Independence Square. The cycle booth is managed by the UDA under the Ministry of Defence and cycles are rented out for exercising. Funds generated through this are channelled into the maintenance of the premises and welfare of armed forces personnel. Hearts for Heart is all about reaching out to others in encouraging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. In doing so, changing and saving lives.