By Don Asoka Wijewardena

Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA) Council member Dr. Vajira Senaratne yesterday revealed that around 25,000 individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 had been admitted to hospitals with heart diseases each year in Sri Lanka.

It showed that even young people had been seeking medical treatment from hospitals with complaints of heart diseases. Unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, smoking and consumption of liquor caused heart diseases, he said. A person must always watch his or her blood pressure and ensure that it remained within the recommended range, he told the media at hotel Cinnamon Grand yesterday (11).

Consultant Cardiologist Dr. (Mrs) K. Amarasena said whenever a person developed a chest pain lasting more than three hours; he/she should seek timely medical attention.

General and Intervention Cardiologist Dr. Gotabhaya Ranasinghe said that the number of people dying of heart attacks in Sri Lanka had increased in recent times. The consumption of fast food items such as hamburgers, french fries, oily foods, cheese and butter based food and smoking and alcohol consumption caused hypertension which is the main factor in heart complications, he added.

Dr. Ranasinghe noted that the Sri Lanka Heart Association would submit a proposal to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena seeking the establishment of an effective insurance scheme for the benefit of heart patients. Because many families were unable to make both ends meet as the breadwinner was affected with a heart ailment. Many food items which contained saturated fat and high percentages of cholesterol should be avoided. People should eat more fruits whole grain cereals and vegetables, he said.