The Heart Hospital, in collaboration with Hamad International Training Center and Kulluna for Healthy Heart, is hosting 10 days of activities until 3 October at Place Vendome, Heart Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Hazm Mubairek General Hospital and the Communicable Disease Center to highlight World Heart Day, under the theme: “Knowing about heart disease, can protect your heart. Healthy heart is the key to healthy life.”.
The World Heart Day campaign raised awareness on the importance of preventing heart diseases as well as offer education on the risk factors associated with them. Activities highlighting the day includes one-kilometer walkathon at Place Vendome, questions and answers games, presentations, rewards offer, vital signs checking (blood sugar, BP and cholesterol testing), as well as smoking cessation advice and consultations.
The event also features different activities to motivate and encourage the public to make lifestyle changes to protect themselves from heart disease such as an awareness booth to offer information to patients, staff and the general community about basic life support, importance of diets, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiology and pharmacy.
Dr. Nidal Asaad, CEO and Medical Director of Heart Hospital stated that raising awareness of heart diseases is very vital as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. “The World Heart Federation says over 20.5 million people die from CVDs each year, while the World Health Organization estimates CVDs represent 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths from CVDs, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke. World Heart Day, on 29 September, is an opportunity to highlight the actions that individuals can take to prevent and manage CVD. This year’s campaign focuses on the essential step of knowing our hearts first. Because when we know more, we can take better care. 80% of premature CVD deaths are preventable,” he said.
Dr. Asaad noted that the number of heart attack cases increased in Qatar in the past five years, which led to the number of diagnostic and interventional cardiac catherization at the Heart Hospital to reach 9,000 cases in 2023 bringing the death rate from heart attack from 5% around 1%.
“Most CVDs can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, obesity, and control of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The Heart Hospital covers the full range of cardiology and CT surgical services at a tertiary care level for the state of Qatar. Patients can benefit from several services provided by Heart Hospital such as interventional catheterization, cardiac electrophysiology, valve and structural heart intervention, cardiac noninvasive services, cardiothoracic surgery, clinical imaging, laboratory, advanced heart failure care, inpatient and intensive care services with continuous monitoring, outpatient services and cardiac rehab,” he highlighted.
Dr. Khalid Abdulnoor, Kulluna Chairman and HITC Director said: “We are very pleased to have teamed up with the Heart Hospital to highlight World Heart Day and showcase some of our services at HITC and Kulluna for Healthy Heart.” He also emphasized the importance of regular checking of heart for pre-conditions that can cause heart diseases and the need to detect and diagnose heart diseases early.
World Heart Day has been observed for over two decades by the World Heart Federation, which has been leading the World Heart Day movement – informing people around the world that cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death globally.
