Mr Aaron Offei, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Health Service, has noted that the increase in heart related diseases among the aged, was due to failure on their part to exercises in their youth. He called on the youth to at least exercise for 30 minutes within each week to prevent them from contracting diseases like stroke, which has been identified as the world’s number one killer. Mr Offei was addressing more than 300 people in Sunyani at the weekend after a health walk through some principal streets of the regional capital, organized for residents in the municipality, to mark this year’s World Heart Day. The health walk that lasted for two hours was participated by health workers, fire officers, prison officers, police, media practitioners and some students. The Regional Director said the modifiable factors of being struck by stroke were high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high glucose levels and tobacco smoking, while age, family history and gender of an individual were the non-modifiable factors. Mr Offei advised the public to eat more fruits and vegetables, to use less salt and avoid processed foods to lower the risk of contracting the disease. He urged the youth not to engage in smoking and drinking of alcoholic beverages to maintain good health. Mr Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, Brong-Ahafo Deputy Regional Minister, who took part in the walk, stated that out of ignorance and peer influence the youth practised smoking and alcoholism, forgetting about the dangers. He noted that because of modernization people “do not have interest in local dishes and walking, due to the availability of various kinds of processed foods and machines for transportation”. The Deputy Regional Minister called for a massive campaign and education among the public to help reduce the risk of contracting heart related diseases. Source: GNA