CVD is the leading cause of death in the world. Cardiovascular diseases cause disproportionate harm to low- and middle-income countries in which more than 80% of the proportion of those killed by them are men and women alike.
The good news, is that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention. Checking and controlling risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar or diabetes is also very important.
Rapid urbanization, unhealthy diets and increased sedentary lifestyles have led to rapid growth rates of obesity and diabetes, with an estimated 425 million people currently living with diabetes worldwide – about 90 percent of people suffer from type 2 diabetes. The situation will further deteriorate in the coming decades, as the total number of diabetics is expected to increase to more than 600 million people by 2045. It is estimated that up to 50% of diabetics worldwide are unaware of their disease.
While diabetes is treatable, even when glucose levels are under control, it significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) – people with diabetes are more likely to have coronary artery disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, and angina. Compared to those who do not have diabetes. Preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetics is a necessary preventive strategy that focus mostly on lifestyle management and risk factor interventions.
What can I do to avoid a heart attack or stroke?
Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet is crucial to heart and circulatory health. This should include lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish and beans, with a limited amount of salt, sugar and fat. Alcohol should also be used in moderation.
Get regular physical activity: at least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day helps you maintain cardiovascular fitness; at least 60 minutes on most days of the week helps to maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid tobacco use: Tobacco in every form is considered very harmful to health – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco. Exposure to second-hand smoke is also dangerous. The risk of heart attacks and stroke begins to decrease once a person stops using tobacco products, and it can decrease by half after one year.
Checking and controlling cardiovascular disease risk: An important aspect of preventing heart attacks and strokes is to provide treatment and advice to individuals at high risk of infection (those who have a 10-year cardiovascular disease risk equal to or greater than 30%) and limit Of the risks of the cardiovascular system. Health workers can estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease by using simple risk charts and providing appropriate advice for managing your risk factors.
Know your blood pressure: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it is one of the biggest causes of sudden stroke or heart attacks. Check your blood pressure and know your numbers. If it’s high, you’ll need to change your lifestyle to follow a healthy diet while eating less salt and increasing physical activity, and you may need medications to control your blood pressure.
Learn about blood lipids: The level of cholesterol in the blood and abnormal fats increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol in the blood must be controlled through a healthy diet, and if necessary, by appropriate medications.
Learn about blood sugar: Blood glucose (diabetes) increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes, it is very important to control blood pressure and blood sugar to reduce your risk.