Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide and Chile is no exception. More than a quarter of the deaths recorded in the country are due to this cause, with more than 28,000 people dying annually.
In the same vein, 25.5% of the population is in the category of high cardiovascular risk. Therein lies the importance of prevention and promoting changes in habits that contribute to a better state of health.
Currently, the most important cardiovascular risk factors are related to lifestyle and unhealthy habits. According to the latest National Health Survey, in the first place, sedentary lifestyle stands out (86.7%), then overweight (39.8%) and in third place active smoking (33.3%). It is followed by hypertension (27.6%), diabetes (12.3%) and risky alcohol consumption (11.7%).
“The most common conditions linked to the heart are coronary heart disease, that is, heart attacks or angina pectoris, and also those of the electrical conduction device, mainly arrhythmias or diseases that require pacemakers,” says Fernando Lucero, heart surgeon and head of the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at Clínicas RedSalud.
“The Chilean population presents a high prevalence given the risk factors and the Westernized lifestyle. Just look at the statistics: 86.7% of Chileans are sedentary and 74.2% of the adult population suffers from overweight or obesity. In addition, today it is becoming more frequent to see infarcted patients, increasingly younger and obese, “he adds.
To reduce the prevalence in our country, the specialist points out that “it is important to keep modifiable risk factors under control, which refers to all those habits and practices harmful to heart health, but that can be changed with willpower and perseverance. By reducing or eliminating exposure to these risks, it decreases the chance of illness, disability, and even premature death.”
According to the head of cardiology at Clínica Las Condes, Carlos Caorsi, it is essential to prevent and the “best way is to have a healthy life, that is, exercise, have a healthy and balanced diet, maintain an adequate weight and monitor those risk factors that can be controlled, either with non-pharmacological or pharmacological measures, such as diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and obviously avoiding smoking.”
Likewise, the specialist indicates that preventive check-ups are important in this type of pathology that, in the case of men, without basic diseases, should be started from the age of 35, and earlier if you have risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
In the case of women, it corresponds to the 40 years, for having hormonal protection factors, but it also depends on whether they have risk characteristics such as diabetes or hypertension, since in these cases it must be done at a previous age.
As for the warning signs to be watched to consult in time before a cardiovascular pathology of risk such as an acute myocardial infarction, Dr. Caorsi indicates that this “presents with a pain to the center of the chest quite intense and that can radiate both to the neck and to the jaw. This pain usually increases when we make any effort and decreases in resting situations. This is very important to point out, all those pains that increase when walking or when making an effort people should immediately consult their doctor.”
In the case of strokes, the following warning symptoms are listed: paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg; difficulty speaking and understanding what others are saying; sudden problems seeing with one or both eyes; difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; severe and sudden headache with no known cause.
Caorsi indicates that the specialist should be consulted in the presence of any of these symptoms that alert to the possibility of a cardiovascular event, because “starting treatment earlier, determines that the sequelae are minor”.
How to Maintain a Healthy Heart
One of the most recommended strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease is to perform physical activity on a regular basis. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggestion for adults between 18 and 65 years old is perform aerobic physical activities, with moderate intensity, for at least 150 minutes a week.
“From a metabolic point of view, the practice of regular exercise has been shown to have a number of benefits. Decreases triglyceride levels; regulates cholesterol levels; contributes to lowering blood pressure; improves metabolism and insulin sensitivity, among others,” says Dr. Lucero.
Nutrition also plays a critical role in the state of heart health. “The consumption of foods with high levels of sodium and sugars lead to the development of diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes, which are directly related to the appearance of cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the recommendation is to maintain a balanced, varied and healthy diet, consume fruits and vegetables, reduce saturated fats, refined sugars, sodium and abandon habits such as alcohol and smoking, “he says.
The specialist adds that, according to WHO data, “80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases could be avoided by changing our eating habits for a balanced diet and constant physical activity. For the same reason, we should not wait until we have a heart problem, but from an early age to promote healthy habits permanently.”
Good cardiovascular health is also based on periodic check-ups to prevent and detect a pathology: “At least once a year it is important that patients undergo preventive controls of blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, especially after the age of 40 or earlier in case of risk factors and family history.”
“In addition, there are genetic studies that today we can do to those direct relatives of patients with heart disease and that help prevent or detect a problem and thus be able to act before the disease occurs,” specifies the Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases of RedSalud Clinics.
Treatment options vary depending on the type of heart disease and its severity. In addition to generating lifestyle changes, alternatives aim to take medications and undergo procedures such as angioplasties of diseased coronary arteries, aorto-coronary bypass surgery or repair/replacement of diseased heart valves.
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