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Do you want to live a long an productive life? If you do, you need to keep your heart healthy and strong, which entails eating the right food, exercising regularly, not smoking and not drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
According to scientific research, ever more people worldwide are suffering from heart disease because of their failure to adhere to these effective preventive measures.
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death globally, claiming about 17.3 million lives each year. In South Africa, more than 78 000 people die each year from heart disease – and there are no signs that this number will fall in the foreseeable future.
A local study – conducted by Pharma Dynamics between May 2014 and April this year – claims that the number of people suffering from heart illnesses is rising, particularly in urban areas.
The study sought to determine people’s likely risk of suffering a heart attack based on where they live in South Africa. Researchers found that the northern region of the Western Cape was where most people suffering from heart disease lived, followed by Vereeniging in Gauteng.
The researchers arrived at these findings by analysing the number of calls made to a top emergency response unit that treats patients on private and public healthcare, which dealt with possible heart attack cases countrywide over the two-year period.
Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, said people living in metropolitan areas struggled with chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity and diabetes – all precursors for heart disease.
“Residents in the majority of these areas are among the least likely to exercise regularly. Smoking rates also tend to be higher, which further increases these people’s risk of heart disease.
“Poor diet is commonly associated with heart conditions. Unfortunately, the demands of a fast-paced urban lifestyle do not leave much room for nutritional meal planning. As a result, people are increasingly living on fast-food meals, which often carry high fat, sugar and salt contents,” she said.
Gabriel Eksteen, a dietitian and physiologist at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, echoed these findings. He blamed the rising rate of cardiovascular diseases on unhealthy eating habits by South Africans and people the world over.
He cited an international study in support of his claims, which identified unhealthy eating habits as the driving force behind increased rates of heart disease.
The study, published by online journal resource the Public Library of Science, showed that a higher intake of saturated and trans fats was associated with high mortality rates.
Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat uncommon in nature, but which has been commonly produced industrially from vegetable fats for use in margarine, snack food and packaged baked goods, and for frying fast-food since the 1950s.
Unsaturated fat is known as “the good fat” as it protects the heart. It contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The former are found in natural foods such as whole milk products, nuts and high-fat fruits such as olives and avocados. They are associated with lower mortality.
Polyunsaturated fats are found in nuts, seeds, fish, algae, leafy greens and tiny shrimp krill. Oils rich in polyunsaturated fats provide essential fats that the body needs but cannot produce itself – such as omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids. Essential fats are obtained through food.
Eksteen said: “The study revealed that replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat – particularly omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids – could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“This new evidence highlights the importance of replacing foods containing saturated fat with those high in unsaturated fat, to decrease the likelihood of developing heart disease,” he said.
“Making healthier food choices has a massive impact on one’s long-term health.”
