Saturday, 3 August 2013 00:23
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With 2013 designated as the Year of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Sri Lanka, cardiovascular health has become a priority for the state as well as for the population at large. Sirasa TV and YES FM together with Unilever’s Flora brand have joined hands to create awareness towards making a change for a healthy lifestyle. Together, they announced a health event ‘Hearts for Heart’ which also aims to raise funds towards the upgrading of the cardiac unit of the Karapitiya Hospital, Galle.
Heart disease is ranked as the leading cause of hospital deaths in Sri Lanka with one in four deaths resulting from it. With an ageing population, the impact of heart disease on the society at large is astounding. “As a nation, we are spending a significant amount of time and money on dealing with the disease but we are also discovering that heart disease is no longer striking the elderly alone but also the young,” said Dr. Thalatha Liyanage, Head of the NCD Unit at the Ministry of Health.
“We have a high level of premature mortality, where a population under the age of 65 is struck by heart disease. In reality, up to 80% of the coronary heart disease can potentially be avoided by adopting simple lifestyle changes. We must develop a healthy lifestyle that includes eating healthily, exercising and reducing smoking and drinking,” recommended Dr. Liyanage.
“In Sri Lanka, of the total population, about 25% are completely inactive and are not engaged in any exercise. We also have an increasing obesity rate of 31% which can induce heart disease and other forms of NCDs.”
“Changes in our attitudes towards food, exercise and managing ourselves must come early in life,” stated Dr. Susi Perera, President of the Association of Community Physicians in Sri Lanka. “The young are not concerned with managing weight or limiting the intake of sugar and salt from an early age because they do not feel any symptoms. But that does not mean they will not get heart disease or diabetes later on in life. Sri Lankans are used to worrying about illness when we have symptoms but that line of thinking must be changed.”
Dr. Susi Perera who developed the concept of Super Eight, along with other medical professionals, believes that adhering to the areas covered in Super Eight will bring about a change in adapting to a healthier lifestyle. “Super Eight is a set of guidelines which gives you goals towards making a positive change in lifestyle.”
The concept of Super Eight focuses on areas from maintaining a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9, avoiding excessive salt, spending at least 30 minutes on moderate exercising, consuming five servings of fruit and vegetables every day, limiting foods with trans fats, giving up smoking and alcohol and maintaining a normal level of blood pressure below 140/90.
“Change does not happen overnight. It takes time to establish good habits in developing a healthy lifestyle. With more awareness, more participation, we can look forward to using Super Eight as a parameter for good health,” added Dr. Perera.
The introduction of a healthy lifestyle that combines with cardiovascular health is the theme behind ‘Hearts for Heart’ – ‘Run or Ride. Save lives’ – a unique charity run and ride organised by the Ministry of Sports together with Sirasa TV and YES FM. This mega event is supported by the Ministry of Health and is sponsored by Flora, the world’s number one healthy choice for bread.
‘Hearts for Heart’ will be held on 8 September 2013 at the Sports Ministry Grounds and will include a three kilometre ‘Fun Run’ for men and women, a six kilometre women’s open run and a nine kilometre open run for men. There will also be a cycle ride as well for those who prefer to peddle with Pedal Pushers. Funds raised through ‘Hearts for Heart’ will be utilised towards the upgrading of the cardiac unit of the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, which serves as a cardiac treatment hub for the Southern Province.
Those interested in participating in ‘Hearts for Heart’ can visit the Flora Sri Lanka Facebook page of for registration – www.facebook.com/FloraSriLanka.
Flora is an unsaturated fat spread which is virtually free of trans fat and contains healthy omega 3 and 6. Flora has consistently supported a healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercising. Among its many endeavours is the recent sponsorship of the cycling booth at the Independence Square, which is managed by the UDA under the Ministry of Defence, where cycles are rented out for exercise purposes with the funds going towards maintenance of the premises and welfare of the servicemen and women.
According to the NCD Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka leads the region in heart disease. Sri Lankans can reach out to others and ensure that with a few lifestyle changes, becoming healthier and living active lives can indeed be achieved; a task that ‘Hearts for Heart’ has set out to do.
