On the morning of Saturday 7, August 2024, Kigezi region and the whole country woke up to the saddest news about the death of Defense State Minister and Kisoro Member of Parliament, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, who, according to medical reports, succumbed to a heart attack.
The sudden passing of the 50-year-old legislator shocked everyone, considering there were no previous records of illness related to the disease prior to her demise.
Sarah Mateke suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Mengo Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The heart attack disease, mostly mistaken for cardiac arrest, is a non-communicable disease that occurs when there is blockage in one or more arteries to the heart, preventing the heart from receiving enough oxygen in the blood.
Similar to diabetes, a heart attack is considered a “lifestyle disease” because it is linked to the manner in which somebody lives their life.
However, unlike diabetes, patients with heart attacks have the highest chances of cardiac death with fatal effects on the brain if it lasts more than eight hours without issuing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Health experts warn that the increase of non-communicable diseases is likely to trigger more cases of heart attacks in Uganda.
According to researchers at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), one in every four adult Ugandans have hypertension and are taking medication, while seven out of ten are not even aware of their condition.
The Executive Director, Uganda Heart Institute, John Omongino, explains that a heart attack happens when the supply of blood to the part of the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot.
According to Omongino, this condition is mostly common among people who are diabetic with high cholesterol, which clogs the blood vessels.
“At the heart institute, we are getting at least a patient with such evidence of a heart attack per week,” he stated.
He added that the most common signs and symptoms before a heart attack are chest pain, especially on the left, heaviness on the left side of the chest, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, and body weakness, among others.
He further noted that the figures in question point to an extremely worrying trend that must be reversed urgently to save the lives of Ugandans.
Conclusively, in order to prevent the condition, one should stop the use of tobacco, indulge in some exercise daily, have a healthy diet, have quality sleep, have regular health screening tests, and prevent health-related infections.