Pfizer Nigeria Ghana and East Africa; world’s leading pharmaceutical giant, has said that its Cardiovascular Summit is aimed at providing a forum for the advancement of medical knowledge and patient care. The Summit, which was the fourth held Thursday, brought together international and local healthcare professionals to deliberate on the new and emerging trends in the nature, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases in Ghana. Dr. Bernard Nkum, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist, University of Ghana Medical School, Kolebu, while giving the Ghanaian perspective on Ischemic Heart Disease said “emphasis should be on optimum management. Laboratory tests should not override time tested efficiency of patients’ history and physical examination.” In his presentation, he said in an attempt to manage cardiovascular disease, care givers must ensure the natural healthy pattern of the patient is maintained. “Let them engage in activities they enjoy, lest we find ourselves creating more problems of increased blood pressure while trying to solve another. We are a developing country, with little means to provide state of the art surgery and post-surgery management. It is cheaper and less tasking to change lifestyles that are inimical to good health. We are encouraging Ghanaians to walk more than ride a car, drink more water than frizzy or alcoholic drinks and eat fruits and vegetables at least once daily.” According to Dr. Ola Akinboboye, the keynote speaker at the Summit, the prevalence of Ischemic heart disease situation is on the rise amongst developing countries of which Ghana is one. Its prevalence cuts across all ages, gender and socio economic class hence, the need to urgently address the scourge. According to him, “the key to management and prevention of the disease is indulging in healthy lifestyles – reduction of sodium consumption, weight control, increased physical activity and moderation in alcohol intake. “Ischemic Heart Disease reduces the flow of blood to the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen to the heart. This reduction in blood flow may result in a number of symptoms which vary in intensity among individuals. But with lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgical procedures, Ischemic heart disease can be treated successfully,” said Akinboboye, a medical director Laurelton Heart Specialist and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York. Akinboboye, who is also the President of the Association of Black Cardiologists, informed participants at the summit that non-smokers and people with lower blood pressure are at a lower risk of developing heart diseases. Ischemic Heart Disease is a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart usually due to coronary artery blockage. Its risk increases with age, smoking, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and high blood pressure. The Ischemic Heart Disease may develop slowly as arteries gradually become blocked, or they may occur quickly if an artery suddenly becomes blocked. Giving reasons for Pfizer’s convening this Summit four years consecutively, Dr Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director, Pfizer Nigeria Ghana and East Africa said: “The Summit is part of Pfizer’s contribution to the advancement of medical knowledge and patient care in the region." He added: "This further exemplifies the commitment of Pfizer to world class medical education, capacity building and excellence in service to the Ghanaian Health Sector.” He stressed that “The statistics presented have confirmed this is the world’s next epidemic and we must confront it if we are to save our active age bracket. This platform will provide healthcare practitioners an avenue to engage in robust discussion on the latest trends in cardiovascular disease, its management, encourage use of general guidelines and recommendations in management of cardiovascular disease patient.” The World Health Organization (WHO) recent studies show that, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death and disability in the world, responsible for an estimated 17.3 million deaths in 2008. WHO’s report says that middle income and low income countries, which African countries fall under, account for 80 per cent of CVD patients.