<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The World Heart Day, as every year, was celebrated on 29 September 2016, across the globe. It is an important day which helps to remind people about the general well-being of the human heart, how to prevent oneself from heart related diseases and make them aware of the severity of the disease, which is one of the leading causes of deaths in the world. With ‘Power Your Life’, being the theme for the year 2016, the World Heart Federation chose to highlight the importance of creating a heart-healthy environment and stated: </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“The success of World Heart Day depends on the proactivity of organizations from around the world to help us spread awareness of CVD [cardiovascular disease], the world’s number one killer”.
</span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As the leaders in healthcare in Pakistan, The Aga Khan University Hospital has always considered its responsibility to help the population at large make healthy lifestyle choices. Supporting the World Heart Federation’s objective, the hospital conducted a public awareness session, “Know Your Heart, Power Your Life”, on 1 October 2016. </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Held at The Aga Khan University Auditorium, the Public Awareness Session attracted people from all walks of life. The programme was opened by Dr. Saulat Fatmi, Service Line Chief for the Heart, Lungs and Vascular Service Line at The Aga Khan University Hospital. The session included talks by our cardiac, pulmonology and anaesthesiology specialists, who spoke on varying topics including:</span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. The assessment of blockages in coronary arteries (with no symptoms evident). </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2. The need for angiography and its latest techniques.</span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">3. Indications and techniques of coronary artery bypass surgery. </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4. Measures to take when the heart rate is very fast or very slow. </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The informative programme ended with a Q&A session with our leading power panel of cardiologists after which they mingled with the audience over a cup of tea. The crowd walked away with the powerful message: ‘Power Your Life ‘and ‘Keep a Healthy Heart’. </span><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/>
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