September 29-World Heart Day

Every year, on September 29, the world celebrates World Heart Day (World Heart Day). It has been held since 2000 to an initiative of the World Heart Federation (WHF) to raise public awareness about the danger of cardiovascular diseases.

The idea for this annual event was conceived by Anthony Bayes de Luna, president of the WHF from 1997 to 1999. Originally (until 2011) World Heart Day was celebrated on the last Sunday of September.

In Russia, this day and the week following it are called the Russian National Week of a Healthy Heart.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, which include: ischemic heart disease (a disease of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle); a disease of the blood vessels of the brain brain; peripheral artery disease; rheumocarditis (damage to the heart muscle and heart valves as a result of rheumatic fever caused by streptococcal bacteria); congenital heart disease (existing from birth deformities of the structure of the heart); deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (the formation of blood clots in the leg veins, which they can shift and move to the heart and lungs).

Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute diseases and occur mainly as a result of blockage blood vessels that interfere with the flow of blood to the heart or brain.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, killing 17.5 million people each year. At the same time, more than 75% of deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries.

Currently, in many countries, technologies for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases have reached a high level: now people who have suffered these "vascular disasters" will be able to live long enough. However, this does not happen in all countries of the world, so the mortality rate from these diseases remains very high.

The situation is unlikely to change in the near future. WHO predicts that in 2030, people will die from cardiovascular diseases about 23.6 million people.

In Russia, the death rate from cardiovascular diseases is 47%.

At risk are not only the elderly, but also men over 35 years of age, as well as women who have entered menopause. The most common cardiovascular disease in Russia is arterial hypertension. She suffers from it almost every second adult Russian – more than 40% of adults in Russia, in particular, more than 45% of men and 42% of women.

In the second position in terms of prevalence is ischemic heart disease, in the third place – cerebrovascular diseases diseases (a group of brain diseases caused by pathological changes in the cerebral vessels with violation of cerebral circulation).

According to statistics, approximately the same number of men and women suffer from cardiovascular diseases, but die from them more women than men.

At the same time, men die from cardiovascular diseases 10 years earlier than women. Therefore, for men, the most the dangerous age is 50-60 years, whereas for women it is 65-75 years.

An important risk factor is a genetic predisposition, which is present in a person if among his first-line relatives (mother, father, brother, sister) had cardiovascular complications at the age of 55 years in men and up to 65 years in women.

The following risk factors are unhealthy diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and any other forms of tobacco use, including pipe smoking, hookah smoking. Also, the risk factors for the formation of cardiovascular diseases include the group psychosocial factors – acute stress, sluggish stress states, anxiety and depressive states. Further low physical activity follows, which is very closely associated with overweight, obesity.

According to scientists, in order to prolong life and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, a person needs to be physically active 150 minutes a week. At the same time, it is not necessary to go to the gym, pool or get up on the treadmill the path: it is enough to walk to work or do house cleaning. In addition, the risk of stroke or a short nap once or twice a week reduces the risk of heart attack by almost half.

According to the WHO, to prevent a heart attack or stroke, it is necessary to have a balanced diet. Experts recommend eating low-fat varieties of fish (at least twice a week), 300-400 grams of vegetables and fruits per day, as well as 0.5 liters of fermented milk products. It is advisable to eat red meat no more than once a week. Sweet carbonated drinks, packaged juices, alcohol, and baked goods should be completely excluded, sweets, smoked and salted food, chips and fried foods. It is recommended to give preference to boiled, stewed and baked food.

In addition, WHO recommends that you exercise regularly and check for the development of diseases, as well as abstain from the use of alcohol and tobacco.

On World Heart Day, thematic seminars and conferences, "round tables", speeches of cardiologists and therapists are held.

The material is prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources