Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Marked annually on September 29, World Heart Day unites communities to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading global cause of death.
The majority of premature CVD deaths are preventable through lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise, and stress management, according to medical experts.
This global initiative by the World Heart Federation promotes heart-healthy habits through events and campaigns.
At a recent event, Dr. Niamh Kilcullen, Consultant Cardiologist at Mubadala Health Dubai, discussed heart disease symptoms with Aletihad.
She spotlighted exertional chest pain or discomfort, which may feel like tightness or pressure, along with shortness of breath, fatigue, leg swelling, palpitations, dizziness, and fainting as key symptoms.
Dr. Kilcullen also addressed the impact of stress on heart health, stating: “Stress can affect the heart in a number of ways. It can cause higher levels of inflammation, leading to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which gives rise to coronary artery disease. Stress also increases stress hormones, causing the heart to beat faster and raising blood pressure, which can become problematic over time.”
“In addition, elevation in cortisol levels can affect blood sugar, cholesterol, and other risk factors for heart disease. Short-term stress can also have an impact, as a sudden rise in blood pressure or heart rate can sometimes cause plaques to rupture in the arteries, potentially leading to a heart attack,” she added.
She highlighted the role of diet “as a very important risk factor for heart disease,” noting that a Mediterranean-style diet can play a big role in preventing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Kilcullen explained that high blood pressure can lead to various heart problems, including coronary artery disease, heart muscle thickening, and heart failure.
“High blood pressure can narrow and damage the arteries,” she said, noting that this can result in chest pain or heart attacks.
“You can reduce your risk of cardiac events by 35 percent by becoming physically active,” she said.
Turning to the increasing incidence of heart disease among younger populations, Dr. Kilcullen pointed out that it is primarily due to the development of risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Regarding genetics, Dr. Kilcullen referred to the saying, “Genetics loads the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger.”
She highlighted advancements in treatments, such as SGLT2 inhibitors in reducing mortality in heart failure patients, improved stent technologies, and the development of smaller, more sophisticated pacemakers.
Lifestyle, Early Detection, and Technology
Dr. Abdul Razzak Alkaddour, Cardiology and Internal Medicine Consultant at HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, showcased key lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease, including a balanced diet, daily exercise, avoiding smoking and alcohol, managing stress, and ensuring quality sleep.
He warned that stress raises inflammatory markers and cortisol levels, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attacks.
Regular health screenings are also essential, as many heart diseases can be silent. Dr. Alkaddour recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week, including activities such as brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, or tennis.
“Aerobic exercise improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and increases overall aerobic capacity,” he stated, also noting the importance of resistance training and flexibility and balance exercises.
According to Dr. Alkaddour, the rising heart disease among youth in the last 15 to 20 years, is attributed to smoking, junk food, lack of exercise, and increased diabetes and hypertension.
He urged families with a history of heart disease to adopt healthier lifestyles and seek early diagnosis and management of risk factors.
“This can include conditions like atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy, which weakens the heart muscle. In such cases, we can use mechanical interventions to insert devices that prevent sudden death,” he added.
Dr. Alkaddour called high blood pressure a “silent killer”, affecting about 35 percent of people in the UAE, and warned that undiagnosed hypertension can lead to serious complications like heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure.
To reduce these risks, he urged regular checks, appropriate treatment, and a balanced lifestyle with a low-salt diet, no smoking, limited alcohol, moderate exercise, and effective stress management.
Dr. Alkaddour further noted the role of technology in improving heart disease prevention and treatment, stressing advancements such as artificial intelligence for remote diagnosis and wearable heart monitors.
Advancements in Electrophysiology
Dr. John Rickard, Department Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, spoke to Aletihad about the advancements in electrophysiology (EP) procedures at the hospital.
He explained that EP studies are used to assess abnormal heart rhythms. “We use EP studies to induce abnormal heart rhythms... and may then try to get rid of the rhythm via a catheter ablation,” he said, noting that the goal is to destroy abnormal electrical pathways in the heart to eliminate arrhythmias.
Dr. Rickard spotlighted two major advancements at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
The first is conduction system pacing, which avoids heart failure by engaging the heart’s natural conduction system, instead of placing pacemaker leads in the right ventricular apex.
“The risk of heart failure goes from 25 percent to essentially zero,” he said.
The second advancement is pulse field ablation for atrial fibrillation. Unlike previous techniques using heat or freezing energy, pulse field ablation significantly reduces the risk of collateral organ damage, especially to the esophagus.
“There is almost no risk for collateral organ damage,” Dr. Rickard said.
He highlighted the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s multidisciplinary approach, where electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and surgeons collaborate to provide the best care.
