EDITORIAL
In Barbados, as is the case across the world, heart attack is one of the leading causes of death, despite significant measures being taken to reduce the numbers affected. Middle aged women and men are particularly susceptible, especially with their increased work loads and responsibilities in the home and in the workplace. Additionally, recent figures reflect a disturbing trend of heart disease in the younger adult age groups as well. Hence, now seems an opportune time to stress that there is a need for all of us to take greater care of our overall health.
Family history is a strong risk factor and people with chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are also particularly at risk for heart disease. Doctors, health workers and other officials have long been cautioning Barbadians about the dangers of eating unhealthy foods and leading sedentary lifestyles, while pointing out the numbers that are receiving treatment from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the polyclinics across the island, as well as the significant cost attached to this treatment. At such a rapid rate, Barbados’ scarce financial resources will be seriously challenged to keep up with the cost of treating people with heart disease and other CNCDs.
This week, Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, pointed to a 2015 study by the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs carried out in Barbados, which indicated that Government spent BDS$64 million annually treating cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
He went on to say that “the economy lost Bds$145 million each year due to missed work days, poor productivity, reduced workforce participation and the cost to business of replacing workers suffering from cardiovascular disease and diabetes alone”. In 2012, a high-ranking government official opined that CNCDs pose a challenge in Barbados and that there is a need to bring the highest levels of governments to the table to discuss a solution to these
diseases.
Considering the seriousness of this situation, the work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation comes into even sharper focus, since they continue to educate and agitate for better health practices in Barbados. Many patients attest to the sterling work that they do to expand clients’ knowledge of CNCDs. The foundation also does in depth training, conducting courses in Emergency Cardiac Care, Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, First Aid, CPR and other life saving courses for certification. The organisation places necessary focus on group sessions dealing with heart disease and CNCDs, diet, medication, exercise and overall general support as well.
Attention has also been paid to younger people and their education about these dreaded diseases, since childhood obesity is increasing.
In promoting this healthy thrust, more restaurants must be strongly urged to include healthier options on their menus. Not enough has been done in this area. In the US, UK and further afield, healthier options on menus have become commonplace, and are prominently featured in advertising campaigns so that patrons come on-board.
The work has begun, but if we are to win the battle against heart disease, healthier lifestyles must be adopted without further delay, to maintain our country’s heart health.