Our country has been ranked among the moderate risk countries for cardiovascular events in Europe. What Dimitris Richter, vice president of ELIKAR, tells oloygeia.gr and what advice he gives to have a "strong" heart.
Quite alarming are the findings of the Hellenic Cardiology Foundation (ELIKAR) for the future of cardiovascular events in Greece.
High cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, sedentary life, obesity are the risk factors for heart problems and as shown by the data by Dimitris Richter MD, FESC, vice president ELIKAR, the Greeks unfortunately do not seem to be very worried.
"Unfortunately, our country has been classified among the moderate risk countries for cardiovascular events in Europe, while for many decades we have been in the low risk category," notes Richter.
At the same time, the vice president of ELIKAR gives us useful tips for heart health, tells us at what age to start checking the heart and when to check it every time.
The alarming data
In a total of 70,000 people in Athens, Thessaloniki and various provincial cities who were tested during the first years of the "Cholesterol Control Month" carried out by ELIKAR, the results are as follows:About half of the adults tested (43%) had elevated cholesterol levels. Of these, 50% did not know they had high cholesterol. Of those who did know, one in three had taken no action to address the problem.As for smoking, the results were equally alarming. One in three Greeks said they were smokers, and if we look at age groups, among the under 50s one in two smokes. Furthermore, 25% of those surveyed were hypertensive, 9% were diabetic, 58% were sedentary and 42% were overweight.
Women also have a "heart"
For many decades it has been believed that women are more protected from cardiovascular disease ( i.e. heart attacks and strokes) than men. The main reason was the theory that estrogen had a protective effect on the cardiovascular system of the "weaker" sex as well as the low rates of cardiovascular events in the pre-teen years. However, modern epidemiological data, explains Richter, show that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, much more so than breast cancer.
This fact, combined with the continuing high rates of smoking in women, the gradual increase in average body weight and lack of physical activity, with consequent arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia in older women, make it imperative that there is a need for more effective prevention and more appropriate treatment of all the factors that predispose to the development of coronary heart disease in women as well, especially after menopause.
Which signs warn of heart problems:
Increased levels of blood pressure, lipids, smoking significantly increase the chances of developing an acute cardiovascular event in the following years.
However, the symptoms that will be of great concern are a weight in the chest during exercise or severe shortness of breath during exercise, shortness of breath at bedtime with the need to add cushions to breathe better, etc.
When to start the cardiac check
The European Society of Cardiology recommends that all men over 40 and women over 50 should have an overall cardiovascular risk screening, checking lipid and blood sugar levels, measuring blood pressure and checking for any smoking habit.
In the case of significant risk factors at an earlier age, it is recommended that this screening should also be started at a younger age.
What the screening will include is completely individualised depending on the patient's history, characteristics and risk factors , the presence or absence of symptoms and the doctor chooses to potentially perform a stress test, heart, carotid and/or lower limb artery triplex
Regarding the frequency of screening, Mr. Richter says that in people without cardiovascular disease but only risk factors the screening is usually done annually, or every five years if the doctor finds us without any risk factors.
Tips for a strong heart:
- Mediterranean diet
- Correct body weight
- Walking at least 150' per week
- Stop smoking
- Low cholesterol ( LDL <115mg/dl at least. In people with risk factors LDL may even need to be <55mg/dl) and blood pressure <130/80 mmHg.
The "HEART ROAD" of ELIKAR in Corinth
The Social Action "HEART ROAD" aims to inform people scientifically, in an understandable way, about the great benefits of regular exercise, as one of the factors of prevention of cardiovascular diseases and to raise awareness for its integration in everyday life. Walking is chosen as a starting point for a positive change in our lives because it requires no special equipment or preparation and is suitable for everyone.
Walking 30 or more minutes a day reduces the risk of vascular stroke by 35% and the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus by 40%.
In addition, daily walking reduces blood pressure by up to 11 points and studies show that it reduces the overall risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.