Various forms of heart diseases exist due to various factors both in developed and developing countries. Considering the chronic sickness caused by these diseases, lifelong requirement of drugs for treatment and reduced quality of life of the affected individuals, it is vital that extensive public education be generated about them. This will help people to know about them and adopt preventive measures.

Given the high cost of treating chronic diseases prevention offers the potential of improving health of an individual with minimum expenditure.

Preventing heart disease before it starts is a recommendation by the American Heart association and holds true for any part of the world.

Several strategies have been discussed by experts, time and again, which would help in primary prevention of heart diseases.

Rheumatic heart disease is a matter of great concern in the tropical developing countries. It causes not only immediate illness in a person but damages the heart valves causing heart failure and permanent disability. Those affected are largely ignorant about it. Poor people living in overcrowded places are more susceptible to it as it is a sequel to untreated or repeated sore throat infection. The causative germ is of the Group-Beta haemolyticus Streptococci.

Emphasizing the importance of treating sore throats early will help in long term prevention of this chronic malady. Rwanda Heart care foundation has also laid great emphasis on prevention of rheumatic fever and heart disease.

Another matter of concern in tropical countries is diseases like tuberculosis which also affect the heart leading to heart failure. Early and adequate treatment of T.B. of the lungs will help prevent the spread of causative mycrobacteria to the heart and chronic heart failure. HIV is another infectious illness which can cause cardiac problems in various ways. Education about prevention of HIV and stress on regular antiretroviral treatment in affected individuals would be useful in avoiding chronic cardiac problems. 

Adequate counseling   of expectant mothers to avoid infections, smoking and alcohol and taking a balanced diet would be a useful measure in prevention of congenital heart diseases.

Regular screening of pregnant ladies for hypertension and diabetes, is essential so that they do not develop these chronic diseases during pregnancy and then for life.

Those suffering from thyroid related problems need to take their medication regularly. This will help prevent the cardiac problems resulting from under or hyper functioning of the thyroid gland.

Hypertension and coronary artery disease are emerging in epidemic form across the world causing much morbidity and deaths in young age.  Stress on life style factors is very important to prevent these scourges of health. 

A diet free from extra salt and saturated fats is the ideal one to be taken. It should also include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Junk, fast to cook foods should be avoided as they tend to cause hypertension.  Alcohol and smoking should be totally avoided.

One also has to learn to be stress free, both physically and mentally, as stress is a big risk factor for hypertension as well as coronary artery disease.

Importance of physical activity should be understood by all to prevent these chronic diseases. These life style factors need to be initiated from early childhood, so that these children grow up as healthy adults.

All adults should be screened at least once a year for diabetes and high cholesterol levels. In fact many companies get their employees screened regularly for these problems as part of executive check- up.

People who have a family history of hypertension or ischemic heart disease or diabetes, need to be extra careful. If one of the blood relatives is suffering from these ailments, there are high chances of the individual being affected, more so if other risk factors exist. It is not possible for one to avoid genes, but other risk factors can certainly be controlled.

Thus if individuals take up these preventive steps, the burden of heart diseases in the community can definitely be reduced.

Pande is specialist –Internal medicine-Ruhengeri Hospital
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