Heart Failure

    Written by: Muhammad Nasir serat

According to the information provided by the ministry of public health of Afghanistan, more 100000 Afghans lost their lives due to heart diseases yearly. There are various types of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure or lack of proper functioning of the heart.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked so some patients and a physician about heart failure.

Muhammad Ameen, a resident of Kabul city says: “My heart does not function properly.  I'm suffering from asthma and feel pain in my chest and legs and I have lost my appetite.  My father died of the same disease."

Nimatullah, a resident of Paghman district, Kabul province says: “I suffer from a heart failure disease, I always have a headache and pain in my feet.”

 Professor doctor Ghulam Haidar Yawazi, an internist at Abo Ali Sina hospital, Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province says: “

The heart is an important organ of the human body. The neurological symptoms that are caused to heart failure include mental retardation, sleep disturbances, unconsciousness, amnesia, tiredness, shortness of breath, feeling heart beatings, anorexia and horror, all of which are due to the inadequate blood supply to the nose resulting from the heart failure, and if not treated on time, it might cause stroke and the patient might die.”

What do people think about the causes of heart failure?

Allah Muhammad, a resident of Dehsabz district, Kabul province says: “I think the main cause of heart failure is high blood pressure because high blood pressure caused my father to face with heart failure.”

Abdul Hameed, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says: “I do not have enough information about heart failure but I have heard that people face heart failure in older age.”

Doctor Yawazi says: “The main causes of heart failure are a weak heart, high blood pressure, heart diseases, pulmonary disease, rheumatoid diseases, and the use of tobacco. Diabetes and anemia could also be the causes of heart failure.”

How do people treat heart failure?

Hadi Abdul Samad, a resident of Hairatan town, Balkh province says: “my father was suffering from heart failure disease. He was avoiding salt, greasy foods and animal’s fat.”

Najma, a resident of Herat province says: “my heart does not function normally. I always walk home and use fewer medicines and if I feel more trouble, I visit my doctor.”

Doctor Yawazi says: “We have two types treatment:  in the first type, the patient should pay attention to her/her foods; avoid fatty and salted foods and he/she should eat chicken, fish, vegetable oils, vegetables, and fresh fruits. The second type of treatment is done at a hospital. In this type of treatment, the patient should always be under critical care in the hospital and should take the medicine in accordance with the advice of the physician.”