TIMERGARA, Feb 12: Cases of heart diseases were alarmingly high in the districts of Dir upper and lower, says a report.

According to data released by the cardiology unit of district headquarters hospital, Timergara, there was a sharp increase in the number of heart patients who visited and were admitted to the hospital in 2001 as compared to previous year.

The data revealed that there was a 43 per cent increase in outdoor, 5 per cent in indoor patients, and 33 per cent increase in diagnostic procedures.

Area-wise distribution of patients showed that 33 per cent patients belonging to Timergara and Balambat, 25 per cent to Wari subdivision, 15 per cent to Jandool and 11 per cent to Maidan respectively.

The rest 16 per cent were from Talash, Barawal, Bajaur agency and border provinces of Afghanistan.

The cardiologist in charge of the unit, Dr Fouzullah Farooq said that the increase in the number of the cardiac patients shows a global shift of heart disease from the developed world to the Third World countries.

Developed countries have started taking preventive measures, but in our part of the world it will soon become the No. 1 killer.

He revealed that the main cause of this high disease pattern in both district Dir upper and lower include dietary habits. It is due to excessive use of diary products like desi and vanaspati ghee, butter, milk, cream and red meat resulting in high blood cholesterol and early heart disease.

He pointed out that the old practice of first cousins and inter-family marriages was resulting in genetically-transmitted diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, which if not controlled properly, lead to a major cause of heart disease.

There has been rapid socio and economic development in the area, mainly because of remittances by locals working in the Middle East countries. This has resulted in sedentary life and increased smoking by the dependents.

He said that in the remote areas of Barawal, Kohistan and few damp areas of the district people still live and sleep in the same rooms at cattle. This causes rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Dr Fouzullah informed that with the help of a grant from the governor’s discretionary funds, a few months ago, the hospital has purchased basic therapeutic equipment.

The cardiac unit of district headquarter hospital can cope with the situation, but vigorous campaign is required mainly on the preventive aspect of the disease.