Jammu, Feb 04: With the impending pandemic of obesity and cardiac ailments in rural areas, Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma held a day-long Cardiac awareness cum Health check-up camp in Jammu where people from all walks of life were educated to follow cardiac friendly lifestyle and adopt environmental friendly approach to decrease the morbidity and mortality and improve quality of life.
While interacting with the people, Dr Sushil stated that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), one of the main components of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), are the first leading cause of mortality worldwide: more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. “Obesity has emerged as a global health crisis as various activities of daily living are beginning to favour a more sedentary lifestyle. There has been a massive increase in the prevalence of obesity across all age groups worldwide. Obesity has also been linked to an early decline in mental, physical health, and cognitive function,” he said.
He elaborated that the prevalence of obesity is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. “Although a large body of evidence lends support to the pathophysiological link between obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), obesity has been considered for a long time a minor risk factor or even a simple amplifier of the recognized role of the other well established CV risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia.”
Only in 2021 obesity, he said has been finally acknowledged as a definite pathological identity and identified as a recurrent, chronic non-communicable disease. Obesity causes micro vascular damage corresponding to capillary number reduction and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to ROS secretion, free fatty acid (FFA) release, increased vascular resistances and hypertension. In obese patients the development of atherosclerosis starts earlier and has a quicker progression than in individuals with normal body weight. Pathological studies have also shown that visceral obesity is associated to a greater vulnerability of coronary plaques.
He added while laying stress on the increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases in rural areas told that these areas experience higher rates of obesity and overweight than the nation as a whole, yet many rural communities do not have the resources to address this critical health concern. Rural healthcare facilities are less likely to have nutritionists, dieticians, or weight management experts available.
Additionally, he said the distance that many rural residents must travel to access healthcare facilities, exercise facilities, and healthy food is an ongoing barrier.
To address these challenges, Dr Sushil said rural communities can invest in facilities and infrastructure that support access to healthy food, fitness, and healthy lifestyles. Communities may also choose to develop programs and services that help rural residents learn about the health risks of overweight and obesity, as well as adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors to control their weight, He Said
