NAIROBI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenyans are facing increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to changes in lifestyles, health experts said on Friday.
Consultant Vascular and General Surgeon Dr Hardeep Gill told a health forum in Nairobi that there is a 10 percent prevalence rate of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) among the general population but the rate rises to 20 percent for people over the age of 70 years.
"We are encouraging more people to seek early medical screening and check-ups given the rising cases of PVDs," Gill said during the Resolution Insurance Wellness Summit.
PVD is a lifestyle disease in which a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to many areas of the body including the leg muscles.
The disease is also known to raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. Gill said that PVD incidences are on the rise in Kenya and this is consistent with the increased cases of non-communicable diseases.
The most common symptom of PVDs is pain in the legs when walking. Patients with a history of vascular diseases, heart disease, hypertension and smokers are also at a risk of suffering from the disease.
The consultant surgeon noted that physical activity and exercise are important for prevention of PVDs.
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of PVDs by two to six times and it worsens the symptoms and control of high blood pressure.
Gill said complications caused by diabetes also lead to cardiovascular diseases.
He noted that cases of diabetes are also increasing.
"This is partly due to sedentary lifestyles that have led to less physical activity," he said.
He added that another risk factor of diabetes is increased uptake of sugary foods.
Type one diabetes is common among those under the age of 30 while type two is more prevalent among those above the age of 30. There is no cure for diabetes and is usually managed by taking tablets.
