Malagasy cardiologists complain about the lack of means to combat hypertension

The majority of Malagasy cardiologists complain about the fact that they have at their disposal very few means and surgical equipment to cure hypertension. Such was the general reaction expressed by many Malagasy cardiologists last Saturday during a round-table of the Association of Malagasy Cardiologists (Somacar) which gathered in Antananarivo nearly 180 cardiologists from different places of the country.

According to the Association of Malagasy Cardiologists, the hypertension phenomenon affects 20 to 25% of the Malagasy population. Hypertension can cause different types of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, and infection of cardiac valves, which are all as difficult to cure as the cancer. Hypertension affects mostly adult persons, often due to hereditary predispositions and to personal problems. While alcoholism and smoking are the leading causes of hypertension, it is also very important to watch on one’s diet because cholesterol and obesity can be of real danger.