Ghana reports high incidences of disability due to heart diseases

The Ghana Society for Hypertension and Cardiology has expressed worry that cardiovascular diseases are still the number one cause of disability and death in Ghana.

Speaking at the occasion of marking the world's heart day, , Dr. Francis Kwamin, the President of the society said this is more worrying because cardiovascular diseases constitute a bigger problem than all the other diseases making it very expensive to treat.

He was emphatic that Ghanaians should put up healthy lifestyles to prevent such diseases. Dr. Kwamin is quoted by Radio Ghana saying there are not obvious symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and the only way to know is through regular check ups.

It is for this reason that this year's "World Heart Day" is advocating that people know their risk. Dr. Kwamin advised that from age 35, people should undergo medical screening every two years and once a year after 45 years.

The President of the Ghana Heart Foundation Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, said it is regrettable that Cardiovascular diseases are now killing more people in developing countries than in developed ones.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng mentioned skin bleaching as a contributory factor, since it promotes the establishment of non-communicable diseases including hypertension.

He appealed to all to join in the fight against cardiovascular diseases since they are preventable.