Welcare to provide free heart health checks for UAE in support of World Heart Day

The heart health checks, which include free blood pressure, blood sugar and BMI health testing, are aimed at helping residents in the UAE to 'Know Your Risk' - the theme of the World Heart Federation's World Heart Day 2008 campaign, and forms part of a world-wide screening initiative that will be carried out in more than a hundred countries today.

The testing will seek to provide people in the UAE with a better understanding of their personal risk of cardiovascular disease, with screening for risk factors an important aspect of this programme. It will also aim to encourage residents to foster a heart healthy lifestyle for reducing the risk of heart disease, which is currently responsible for 28% of all deaths in the UAE - with coronary artery disease the most common heart disease affecting residents.

Dr. V.J. Sebastian, Specialist Cardiologist at Welcare Hospital explained the significance of screening and raising awareness about heart disease amongst residents in the UAE.

Dr. Sebastian said:

"Heart disease is the cause of more than a quarter of all fatalities in this country, and more specifically in Dubai, the figure stands at 31%. While genetic factors and the incidence of diabetes have a role to play in causing heart disease, mostly the problem is caused by rapidly changing lifestyles, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and living and working in a stressful environment."

"In supporting World Heart Day, we at Welcare World are sending out a message to every individual in the UAE that heart disease is something that can be avoided in most cases, and one of the primary steps in preventing the disease is to know your risk and know how to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid this killer disease in the future," Dr. Sebastian added.

The free health checks will be offered between 9:00 and 13:00 hrs on the 28th of September in Welcare Hospital, Welcare Ambulatory Care Center, Welcare Clinic Mirdif, Welcare Clinic Qusais and Emirates Diagnostic Clinic.

Information and advice about avoiding heart disease will be available at each Welcare healthcare centre.