Inside the world of heart care with Dr. Haniffa
By Zanita Careem Dr. Zacky Haniffa, Secretary to Sri Lanka College of Cardiology at Durden’s Hospital, is a distinguished Royal College alumnus who graduated from the University of Colombo and furthered his medical education in London.With his expertise and dedication to cardiac care, he has made a meaningful contribution to the field of heart health. […]
Dr. Zacky Haniffa, Secretary to the Sri Lanka College of Cardiology, is a Royal College alumnus who graduated from the University of Colombo and furthered his education in London. Dr. Haniffa's work in cardiac care emphasizes the importance of early detection, preventive care, and public awareness of cardiovascular disease. In an interview, Dr. Haniffa discussed the rising prevalence of heart disease in younger adults and the importance of recognizing risk factors.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, with around 20.5 million deaths in 2025. However, a significant proportion of cardiovascular disease is preventable. The most common heart conditions include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms. The rise in heart disease among younger adults is attributed to lifestyle changes, such as increased sedentary behavior, poor diet, and stress, along with risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Dr. Haniffa highlighted the following risk factors that people often overlook: smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. These factors can cause silent damage to blood vessels over time, leading to heart disease without any initial symptoms. If uncertain about a heart attack, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly, as timely treatment can save heart muscle and lives.
The early warning signs of a heart attack include new or unexplained chest discomfort, breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw. Women may experience less typical symptoms, such as unusual tiredness, nausea, breathlessness, back or jaw discomfort. Ignoring these signs can lead to severe consequences, as time is critical in a heart attack.
Dr. Haniffa recommends three key habits for maintaining a healthy heart: regular exercise, a balanced diet, and not smoking. Additionally, monitoring heart-related numbers like blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and BMI is essential. Simple changes in daily habits, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, can significantly improve heart health.
Eating more vegetables, fruits, pulses, whole grains, nuts, and fish while reducing processed foods, sugary drinks, excess sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats can also contribute to a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
