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Vegetables, fruit and exercise good for your heart, doctor says
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For a hearty life: Indonesian Cardiovascular Experts Association chairman, Ismoyo Sunu poses at a seminar in Jakarta on Wednesday. (Courtesy Eugenia Communications/File)
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voiding heart and blood vessel diseases, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says kill 17 million people worldwide every year, may not be as difficult as you may think if you care to follow Dr. Ismoyo Sunu’s advice.
Quit smoking, eat more vegetables, consume fruit and do more exercise – those are the suggestions the chairman of Indonesian Cardiovascular Experts Association (PERKI) summed up during a World Heart Day seminar in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Heart-related diseases can be prevented by improving people’s awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, he said.
Smoking is a dangerous habit that people find very hard to kick he said, adding that, as such, government policy is needed to reduce the smoking rate.
“We have to encourage the government to raise the tobacco tax and excise [that will result in more pricey cigarettes] to lower the number of smokers,” Ismoyo said.
The WHO has singled out Indonesia as the country with the highest prevalence of smoking, with 67 percent of males aged 15 years and older smoking. Every year, Indonesia spends an estimated Rp 11 trillion to treat tobacco-related diseases.
Joining forces with the Indonesian Heart Foundation and Health Ministry, PERKI has embarked on a campaign aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles.
Another common cause of heart illnesses traceable to people’s lifestyle that Ismoyo highlighted is obesity. (rez)
