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Having a healthy heart not necessarily costly
2008-07-24 10:24:57
By Editor
Our attention is drawn to Monday`s alert that, unless concerted efforts are made to restrain them, heart diseases are highly likely to cause more deaths than those induced by the HIV/Aids scourge.
The alert comes from Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mathias Chikawe, who was addressing the 5th African Heart Seminar in Dar es Salaam.
The seminar sought to boost public awareness about the fact that ailments associated with heart problems were fast growing into an epidemic in most parts of the continent.
Noting that the situation was grave and underscoring the need for urgent action to stem the tide, the minister stated that the government was committed to leading the war on the looming epidemic.
We take heart from this pledge, particularly his declaration that the government was ready to collaborate with any other players in making affordable treatment of heart diseases accessible to all Tanzanians in need of it.
It is understood that it is not always that individuals, families, employers or the government have enough of the funds needed to send heart patients abroad for surgery and other forms of treatment and related care.
It is thus of special significance seeing that, as stated so authoritatively at the seminar, the prevalence of some heart ailments is higher among rural populations than in urban areas.
There is no denying that the cardio-thoracic and vascular surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, epidemiologists, physiotherapists, respiratory technologists and other medical experts attending the seminar were meeting for a noble purpose.
However, blending their intervention with support from the government can achieve the desired goals only if there is enough understanding and cooperation from the larger population.
One may be tempted to ask what kind of public cooperation would be expected - and the answer would show that it is actually that big a deal and does not have to cost much.
The World Health Organisation stated way back in early 1989 that it was almost impossible to enjoy good health without a minimum of physical activities and sports exercised carefully and intelligently.
It elaborated: ``When confined to bed for any length of time, muscles tend to become atrophied, blood circulation is slowed down, resistance to infection is lowered and bone consistency diminishes.
There may also be additional problems including insomnia, slower heart rate and constipation.``
WHO has a lot more advice. It says when optimal level of physical activity is reached, health improves, the aging process is slowed down and the risk of certain diseases diminishes, particularly those involving the heart.
All we need to do to save our hearts from needless trouble is simple things like adults leading relatively sedentary lives having at least half an hour of dynamic activity every other day using all major muscles.
Health experts say the exercise should provoke a slight sweat and make the heart beat accelerate but without reaching the point where one is no longer able to speak.
Thus, all of us do have a crucial role to play in making our hearts healthier. We must play it to perfection.
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