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VOL. 27, NO. 8, October 05, 2007 (Ashwin 18 2064 B.S.)
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Heart Beating
With the change in the living style, the number of population suffering from heart diseases rise alarmingly
By A CORRESPONDENT
Although Nepal has been celebrating the world heart day annually, the number of heart related diseases continue to rise. Given the existing numbers of patients, Nepal needs to increase more facilities to meet present challenges.
Some of the important progresses have already been made in the last few years as the facilities for surgery and other emergency services have increased in the urban city like Kathmandu but it is yet to be expanded beyond the capital.
Till a few years ago, heart disease was considered as disease of rich class but it is now gradually showing signs that this is a disease of poor class people also. As specialized facilities for the heart patients increase, a large number of population with heart ailments have been diagnosed.
According to a study, there are 4 million people suffering from heat ailments. A decade ago, the number was around 800,000 and there has been five fold increase in the number of heart patients in Nepal.
With the high economic growth and rise of urban population, the life styles of people have drastically changed. The consumption of fat products increases as the decline in the interest of physical exercise. Most importantly, the consumption of meat products has gone up. Heart specialists argue that these are some of the factors contributing to increase the number of heart patients.
The health studies have shown that among the patients admitted in the hospitals in the valley, 40 percent have coronary heart problems, 28 percent have rheumatic heart disease and 20 percent have high blood pressure.
"Coronary heart diseases, rheumatic heart diseases and inborn defect in the heart and high blood pressures are some of the major heart diseases," said heart specialist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi.
The heart disease is not confined to the urban areas only. It is also a major problem in rural parts of the country. Recent studies have shown that the number of heart patients are rising alarmingly in rural parts of Nepal. According to a study, among those admitted in the hospitals, 75 percent patients come from rural parts of the country.
"Among 417 patients admitted in Ganga Lal Heart Center, the age below 15, more than 70 percent patients came from remote parts of Nepal. This shows the general tendency in Nepal," said Dr. Bhagwan Koirala, director of the center.
Although the number of heart related disease continues to rise, the government is yet to provide heart specialists in all the regional hospitals in the country. According to the Ministry of Health, heart specialist services are available only in Pokhara and Biratnagar.
According to Nepal Heart Disease Prevention Center, more than 25 percent of deaths are related to the heart failure. Heart experts argue that if the treatments do not increase, heart failure is going to be number one killer in Nepal.
Along with Bir Hospital, Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital, National Gangalal Heart Center, two private nursing homes - Norvic and Medicare - also have specialized service for heart patients.
With more than 30 percent population living below the poverty line, the heart disease is costly for majority of the population. A cost of heart care ranges from Rs.100, 000 to 300,000 depending upon the nature of disease.
Although the facilities are available in three government hospitals, the pressure is now more on Gangalal National Heart Center. "We are over pressured as there is a queue of people. One has to wait months to get appointment for surgery," said Dr. Koirala. “Keeping in mind the number of manpower, the situation is more complicated and challenging.”
In the year 2006, Gangalal Hospital checked more than 60,000 patients. Out of them 496 were related to heart attack. Number of casualty is about 28 which are very nominal. According to Dr. Man Bahadur K.C. cardiologist of the center, out of total patients, 20 percent are below the age of 45 years.
