Reducing Yoru Risk: Heart Health in Focus
Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death, accounting for 30.9% of all deaths in 2022. However, experts emphasize that the majority of these diseases are preventable by addressing behavioral and environmental risk factors. These include tobacco use, poor nutrition (excessive salt, sugar, and fat intake), obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and pollution.
Fortunately, progress is being made. Between 2017 and 2021, the mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases in Europe (Eurostat data) decreased by 11%. Specifically, mortality rates for ischemic heart disease fell by 18.3% and cerebrovascular diseases by 14.8% during the same period, demonstrating the positive impact of prevention, care, assistance, and rehabilitation efforts.
Looking ahead, projections indicate a significant risk remains. Data suggests that over the next ten years, 7.7% of men and 2.6% of women will experience a heart attack or stroke. This underscores the importance of proactive heart health management.
The Italian department of Cardiovascular diseases, through the Heart project, continuously monitors lifestyle trends and risk factors via health investigations and testing. Based on this research, experts recommend five key steps to protect your heart:
- Don’t Smoke: Eliminating tobacco use is crucial.
- Limit Salt Intake: Consume less than 5 grams of salt per day.
- Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables: prioritize a diet rich in produce.
- Engage in Regular Physical Activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week.
- Manage Existing Conditions: Follow prescribed pharmacological treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
recent data (2023-2024) reveals the prevalence of key risk conditions among Italians aged 35-74: 23% of men and 24% of women are obese, 9% of men and 7% of women have diabetes (with a significant portion undiagnosed), 25% of men and 30% of women have high cholesterol (again, many unaware), and 49% of men and 37% of women have high blood pressure (with a substantial number undiagnosed).
Mortality rates from ischemic heart disease also show a gender difference, emerging earlier in men (between 40-50 years) than in women (after 60 years), and increasing rapidly with age in both sexes.Regular health monitoring, including measurement of these key parameters, is therefore vital for early detection and intervention.
