European Day for Cardiovascular Risk Prevention
The European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk appears on March 14 to change the general perception of taking lightly harmful habits that can lead to serious health problems.
Statistics indicate that cardiovascular diseases rank first as a cause of death in middle-aged people. This is according to the estimates in developed countries. On the other hand, the projection indicates that by the year 2030, the annual average of global deaths could reach 23 million if we don’t start taking action.
Thus, the importance of generating awareness means that many cardiovascular diseases could be eliminated or, at the very minimum, people can learn to modify their harmful habits.
Celebration of the European Day for Cardiovascular Risk Prevention
The first celebration of the European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk took place in 2005. The idea came from the agreement between European organizations dedicated to monitoring the evolution of cardiovascular health in different sectors.
In fact, they detected that the curve of affected people and deaths presented a worrying rise, so it was imperative to take the initiative to raise awareness. Soon, March 14 was established as the date to make cardiovascular risk (CVR) more visible.
The main objectives of the European Day for Cardiovascular Risk Prevention
The main objectives of the celebration are the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular diseases by teaching people to adopt healthy measures.
On the other hand, it seeks to create a higher degree of consciousness by creating information programs that can be easily replicated.
In addition, part of the objectives is to make the risk factors more visible, such as obesity, smoking, or stress, to name some of those that have the most significant impact.
Activities
The activities increasingly bring together more volunteers. Therefore, the European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk is now officially marked on people’s calendars!
Among the most popular initiatives are the following:
- Conferences
- The use of social networks to increase the visibility of the problem
- The organization of charity events
- Publication of testimonials and personal stories
- Telematic meetings
- Information events
- Free medical consultations to assess cardiovascular risk
- Forums to answer questions and concerns
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The leading causes and cardiovascular risk factors
The causes and risk factors are a decisive aspect in the European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk. From its very beginning, it has sought to lower the average number of injured worldwide.
In honor of this day, let’s take a look at some of the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Obesity
Obesity unleashes cardiovascular problems since people with this condition tend to have elevated cholesterol or an increase in blood pressure. In countries like Spain, for instance, obesity affects 17% of the population.
Smoking
Tobacco addiction is very dangerous and increases the chances of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. In fact, the frequent use of nicotine leads to stiffness of the arteries, which increases blood pressure.
Stress
Stress promotes a series of alterations that endanger the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. This physiological reaction raises blood pressure, affects cholesterol, and even causes heart rhythm disturbances.
Idiopathic hypertension
Idiopathic, primary, or essential hypertension refers to an increase in the pressure of the blood vessels with no apparent cause. The risk is that the higher the pressure, the greater the work of the heart. Thus, the left ventricle suffers the consequences, evidenced by a thickening that compromises the heart.
Cholesterol
According to what the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) indicates, an increase in cholesterol is directly related to the possibility of a life-threatening cardiovascular event.
Prevention and recommendations
When cardiovascular difficulties arrive, we must learn to cope with the situation. That’s why the key is prevention. However, you don’t have to go that far to change your lifestyle. Next, we’d like to leave you with some prevention tips and feasible recommendations.
Maintain your ideal body weight
While obesity is more likely to lead to cardiovascular disease, being overweight is also a risk factor. Physical activity (30 minutes a day) and a balanced diet can make significant differences in these cases.
Regulate your blood pressure
A lack of control in blood pressure is what modifies the pumping of the heart. Thus, it’s recommended to maintain pressure control at all ages. However, the elderly require more attention. In their case, they should go to the doctor once a year to evaluate the functioning or any action that should be taken.
Cut down on alcohol consumption
Drinking too much alcohol weakens the heart and reduces its pumping capacity. The consequence is a dilated cardiomyopathy is also called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, it’s best never to overindulge in alcohol. If possible, the best option is to avoid consuming it all together.
Get enough sleep
Respecting proper rest provides the body with many advantages. In this case, we’d like to focus on its benefits to reduce stress, the possible appearance of hypertension and obesity (indirectly). Sleeping well between 6 and 8 hours is a must.
Control you sugar consumption
Diabetes doubles the danger of cardiovascular failure compared to people who do not suffer from the condition.
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European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk: What to remember
The European Day for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk is an opportunity to learn and remember the importance of daily habits to care for the heart and its operating environment.
It’s essential to be aware of this, as cardiovascular diseases are on the rise. Controlling your body mass index (BMI) and factors such as eliminating stress is also decisive. Likewise, it’s advisable to request regular medical consultations, especially if you have any relevant risk factors.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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