MOH News

A Cardiologist Provides Travel Tips for Cardiac Patients
28 June 2013
As part of the activities of the summer health awareness campaign carried out by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the MoH Media and Health Awareness Information Center hosted the consultant of Cardiology, Artery Catheterization, Tomography and Nuclear Imaging, Dr. Khaled Al Nemr; in order to raise awareness of the public, especially cardiac patients, by answering their questions on the phone to educate them about their health status and the ability of travelling abroad during the summer via the toll-free no. 8002494444, and through the MOH's account on Twitter: @saudimoh.
 
Dr. Al Nemr provided an apt answer indicating the difference between triacylglycerol and blood fats, in terms of harmfulness and the healthy ratio of each one. As for blood fats, they actually include LDL (bad) cholesterol, beneficial cholesterol, and triacylglycerol. The LDL cholesterol should be less than 160 mg/dl; and the triacylglycerol should be less than 150 mg/dl.
 
As for ensuring the safety of one’s heart and the required test to be done, Dr. Al-Nemr affirmed the necessity of periodical tests of cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure, starting from the age of 20, once every 3 years; as per the physician’s test that determines the yearly need of electric potential (voltage).
 
About heart adenoids, Dr. Al-Nemr indicated that there are many kinds of adenoids; the treatment of each depends on its size, position and how affected the patient is.
 
Furthermore, Dr. Al Nemr placed a particular emphasis that cardiac patients should visit their physician before travelling to test their health status and decide whether or not it is possible to travel for long distances away from medical supervision; given that there are some categories that are medically unable to travel such as in the case of fourth-degree of non-controllable Arrhythmias, fourth-degree heart failure, or who recently had a heart strokes (less than a month ago). Moreover, Dr. Al-Nemr affirmed on getting some tips from their physicians especially leg strokes in long flights, such as leg muscles exercises, wearing medical socks and getting solvents.
 
Also, Dr. Al-Nemr advised cardiac patients to reduce their salt intake, drink more liquids, especially those who have a weak heart muscle, as well as staying away from heat; where they would sweat and lose liquids. In addition, the cardiac patient should have a medical report identifying their medical status, their medication, their heart regulator device, a bracelet that indicates the diseases they have, their name, their address as well as contact numbers.
 
As for the medical bag that a cardiac patient should carry, Dr. Al-Nemr underscored that it is vital to carry the regular drugs or those taken when emergencies.
 
As for Al-Nemr’s assessment on the callers and followers awareness and how their questions reflect their knowledge of sustaining their health, especially their hearts, he stated that the MoH has exerted distinguished efforts through the MoH Media and Health Awareness Information Center with regard to raising health education awareness via all mass media 24/7. Dr. Al Nemr noticed high turnout from citizens interacting with the offered summer service, a tangible improvement of the public awareness; which manifested in their questions, especially those concerning heart-disease prevention.
 
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Nemr extended his thanks to the Minister of Health and the Deputy Ministers for their distinguished efforts to promote health in our beloved country.
 



Last Update : 02 July 2013 01:39 PM
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