Cardiac deaths on the rise

-
Deaths from heart-related diseases are escalating in Bangladesh. The middle-aged and the elderly are mostly being struck down with the diseases.
Sources said most of the deaths per year are for cardiovascular diseases next to cancer here.
Almost half the deaths at hospitals countrywide in 2017 had been due to heart diseases, reveals a bulletin of the health directorate.
The deaths were reported in 514 public hospitals from January 2016 to September 2017.
Most of the patients suffered major non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, cerebrovascular or stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic pulmonary and renal diseases.
Prof Dr Asit Baran Adhikary, chairman of cardiac surgery department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said fatty food intakes, smoking, excessive alcohol, depression, hypertension and other factors lead to coronary diseases.
According to public health experts, changing dietary habits, rapid urbanisation, tobacco use, uncontrolled growth, consumption of processed foods and beverages, indoor air pollution, road traffic injuries, lack of awareness of healthful behavioural patterns and psychological pressure also account for heart diseases.
World Health Organization said an estimated 17.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2015, representing 31 percent of all global deaths. Of them, an estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary diseases and 6.7 million for stroke.
According to WHO, non-communicable diseases form 59 percent of the total deaths in Bangladesh—cardiovascular diseases 17 percent, chronic respiratory diseases 11 percent, cancers 10 percent, injuries 9 percent, diabetes 3 percent and others 10 percent.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimates that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the major causes of deaths, followed by asthma and respiratory diseases.
Cardiac diseases have an age-standardised mortality rate of 411 per 100,000 people. Cardiovascular and hypertension have been showing an increasing trend. Mortality rate by the diseases is 17 percent.
The bulletin said patients’ death rate in medical colleges is 37.73 percent, 33.58 percent in district hospitals and 33 percent in upazila health complexes due to heart diseases till December 2017.
Dr Asit said, “People can easily avoid smoke, excessive alcohol and control cholesterol in blood to prevent heart attacks. Eating vegetables and physical exercise acts as deterrent to coronary heart diseases.”
“More than 400 heart surgeries were done at BSMMU in the past one year where most of the surgeries were successful. The mortality rate after surgery is less than 4 percent only,” he added.
However, the treatment of heart diseases is now better in Bangladesh. Almost all the medical college hospitals and some district-level hospitals are providing treatment to heart patients.
National Heart Foundation sources said some 17,818 heart patients were admitted to the hospital and 2,141 operated. Of them, mortality rate is 10 percent for children and less than 5 percent for adults.
When contacted, Dr Md Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, general secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association, said, “Approximately 95 percent patients had to go abroad for better treatment once, but the picture is opposite now. Only 5 percent go abroad at present.”
“With advanced medical technology in our country, people are now thinking of getting treatment here for reasonable cost and nursing by doctors,” he uttered.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cheating in name of 'sitting service' continues

-
Image
By Mehedi Hassan Munna There is an unabated cheating uptrend in the name of bus ‘sitting service’ in the capital. The majority of buses plying in the capital and its outskirts are being operated as sitting service ones, but only in name. Passengers allege that they are forced to pay additional fares and are facing hassles as these so-called sitting service buses make random stops to pick up and drop off passengers. There was a decision by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) that banned the service from April 16, but it was later reviewed, and then came the decision to legalize the so-called sitting or gate-lock service, as interested bus owners were providing the same. While visiting some transport routes in the capital, this correspondent noticed that there was no distinct guideline either for sitting or local services. Mahfuz Towhid, a private firm employee who commutes from Sadarghat to Mohakhali through Ajmeri Glori, said , “I come from and go
Read more

Dholaikhal losing lustre as car parts supplier

-
Image
By Mehedi Hassan Munna Dholaikhal, a large cauldron of scrap motor vehicles and parts in the old part of Dhaka city, is reportedly losing its character of mechanical healing. Allegations are now that the place, where the mechanical cure was readily available, is supplying poor and faulty vehicle parts and accessories. Some 5000 plus shops, run by self-taught craftsmen and unorthodox entrepreneurs, have made Dholaikhal as the country’s largest second hand parts  of motor bikes and cars. More than 50,000 people are employed there. But their reputation has been questioned for supplying low quality reconditioned machineries. While visiting the spot, this correspondent has noticed that almost all shops are heavily dependent on reconditioned tools. The motor cars’ accessories thare are available at Dholaikhal are motor engine parts, piston ring, steering, dynamore, motor socket, shelf, looking glass, hemi, gear box,  bearings, socket jumper and many other items are sold here.
Read more

Dhaka Kendra: A treasure trove

-
Image
    By Mehedi Hassan Munna You cannot visualise how decorative and momentous a building can be, unless you have its interior glimpse. I am talking about Dhaka Kendra, a treasure trove, popularly known as Moula Bakhsh Sardar Memorial Trust, located at 24 Mohini Das lane of Old Dhaka, a slice of beauty and respite for historians, researchers and young generation. The two-storey building poses much curiosity and attraction for its visitors. On the second floor of the building, there are three well-furnished rooms— full of antique collections, including accessories used by noble families, rare photographs and books of the 400-year-old city. On top of the building, there is a spacious green lawn with various species of herbs and plants that charm visitors. The collections here would definitely take a visitor back to the historical past of the 400-year-old city at his first sight. Since its inception back in 1997 by Mohammad Azim Buksh, the building has been serving people
Read more