If you become breathless, have chest pains, palpitation; these may be an indication that you are suffering from a heart problem.
However, many Papua New Guineans tend to ignore this because of less education on heart diseases.
Visiting heart surgeon from India, Dr Naman Shashtri said there are many heart patients in PNG but most have no idea they have heart issues.
“One reason why their heart is suffering is because they are tolerating it; their tolerance is very high.
“They must be getting small heart attacks but they are not aware of what’s happening inside so they keep on moving without any drugs, any modification in their lifestyle. By the time they reach the hospital, their disease is pretty bad,” he said.
He said there should be more free heart screening camps across the country on regular basis.
Cardiac patients identified and seem symptomatic should be brought in to be evaluated through echocardiography and coronary angiography.
“If we can pick them (heart patients) up early, they don’t deteriorate and the surgery results would be very good,” he said.
Shashtri also stressed on awareness, which should go hand-in-hand with the screenings.
“Make the public aware that these are symptoms of heart disease: if you become breathless, chest pain, palpitation, these are indications of some heart problems.”
(Piccture: Dr Naman Shashtri and Dr Vishal Gupta from India visited PNG through the partnership with Pacific International Hospital to perform speacialist heart surgeries)