Media Contacts:
Sameena Khanam
Zulekha Hospitals
+971 6 5069254
skhanam@zulekhahospitals.com 

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) represent 30% of deaths in the UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13 April 2019 – Zulekha Hospital saved the life of 38-year-old Alexander Baligad after experiencing severe pain in his chest and numbness in his left arm. Following a coronary angiogram examination, a severe coronary disease in the left main artery and 95 per cent blockage of the right artery and a total block of the left anterior descending artery causing Coronary Artery Stenosis was revealed.

According to the World Health Organisation, Cardiovascular Diseases represent 30% of deaths in the UAE. Coronary Artery Stenosis causes thinning of blood vessels within the heart which limits the blood supply, causing the heart to turn blue from lack of oxygen. As there were also signs of severe Ischemia in the left anterior descending artery, meaning the artery was completely blocked and it was critical for the patient to receive a prompt cardiac surgery. 

Dr Mohamed Ahmed Helmy commented: “Due to an ongoing heart condition, the patient was taking Aspirin and Plavix which is used to thin the blood and which makes surgery more complicated due to the higher possibility of bleeding. However, due to the urgent nature of Alexander’s condition, it was decided to go ahead and perform a cardiac procedure to save his life within an hour of his arrival at the hospital.”

A fully experienced dedicated team of staff from nurses to cardiac anaesthetists, intensive care doctors and a cardiac surgery team were available to provide the patient with the best medical care and practice.

Dr Helmy performed open-heart surgery and three bypass grafts to create blood flow to the heart again. The surgery went smoothly and took around five hours to complete. The patient was in intensive care for 48 hours following the surgery and after two days was able to walk around. The patient was discharged on the seventh day and now is instructed to walk 30 minutes daily in order to avoid the occurrence of the severe disease.

Baliga commented: “I was very tired while travelling between work and home every day and was experiencing pain in my left arm and chest for over two months. After consulting in multiple hospitals, I was relieved when Zulekha Hospital accepted to treat my condition. The team gave me the confidence and assurance that the blockage can be removed and I can regain a comfortable life without pain.”

“Heart surgery at such a young age can be attributed to a number of factors including family history, genetics or living an unhealthy lifestyle. As you cannot change family history, it is important to make a conscious effort to change unhealthy lifestyle habits by increasing physical activity and eating healthily,” continued Dr Helmy.

Dr. Helmy added: “With our goal to make the UAE a super hub for critical care in line with the UAE’s vision 2010, we have extended our expertise in comprehensive cardiac treatments under one roof including our new open heart centre in Dubai which is equipped with additional cath labs and the latest technologies in cardiac care. We continue to provide our patrons with high-quality treatments and ensure their speedy recoveries.”

Source: *World Health Organization

-Ends-

About Zulekha Healthcare Group www.zulekhahospitals.com 

Zulekha Healthcare Group is among the forerunners in UAE healthcare. Today the Zulekha Healthcare Group includes two multidisciplinary hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as four UAE medical centres and four pharmacies providing specialised treatments in over 30 disciplines. The Group is also opening a multidisciplinary Hospital in India. Zulekha Hospital has received extensive recognition for its commitment towards quality care and sustainable business practices, and recently received the prestigious Dubai Quality Award for the second time in four years, underling a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to patients and society.