September 29th is World Heart Day. It is celebrated worldwide in order to constantly raise awareness about the frequency of cardiovascular diseases, about all the potential risks and outcomes that these diseases bring, and of course about proper care and protection of cardiovascular health. On this occasion, the initiative Health Priority – Alarm for Awareness spoke with the Primarius Asst.Dr. Emilia Lazarova Trajkovska, Spec. Internist Subspec. Cardiologist from the University Clinic of Cardiology in Skopje, for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, for risk factors, as well as for the challenges of preserving health in the age of the 21st century in which we live. Caring for a healthy heart starts with understanding the health risks we can monitor, control and treat.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of death in the world. According to the World Heart Federation, annually over 18.5 million people die precisely from causes related to these health problems. Therefore, it is not surprising that the public is extremely interested in the prevention of CVD diseases. What are your crucial recommendations, how can we improve the care of our cardiovascular system?
Answer: I will try to sublimate my answer into a few main tips that should be followed, especially by the older population:
- sleep regularly for 7-8 hours
- practice regular physical activity (at least 30 min. daily)
- control and maintain an appropriate body weight
- eat sensibly: eat foods with less trans-fats, reduce salt in the diet, consume whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables, olive oil (Mediterranean diet).
- do not smoke cigarettes
- consume alcohol only moderately, or avoid it completely.
- it is important to take psychological factors into consideration and learn to cope with stressful situations (use relaxation methods, yoga, etc.)
- maintain recommended blood pressure values (
- prevent diabetes, and if it exists, maintain blood glucose control (HbA1c
- control blood fats, especially LDL-cholesterol (LDL
- ask your doctor to estimate your 10-year risk of adverse cardiovascular events (SCORE)
What does your experience tell you, what are the greatest risk factors for cardiovascular diseases?
Answer: In my experience in the field of cardiovascular health, the most important risk factors, in addition to genetic predispositions, are smoking, excess body weight, increased blood pressure and blood fat, then diabetes, especially if it is unregulated, and exposure to chronic stress. Apart from the hereditary factor, the rest of the risk factors can be modified, that is, with their timely identification and treatment, the risk of unwanted cardiovascular conditions is reduced.
The World Heart Federation reported that the causes of up to 25% of the deaths of cardiovascular patients in the world are directly linked to air pollution. In our country, this is a particularly substantial problem in the winter months. How do you, as an expert, see this challenge in the 21st century?
Answer: It is certainly one of the biggest challenges of today, which should be solved persistently and systematically on a global level, and of course locally. Chronic air pollution and the constant exposure of people in the winter months is a terrible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases occurrence and for increased mortality rate. The harmful influence is manifested through direct damage to the endothelium of blood vessels and causing chronic inflammation, which is the reason for the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques of blood vessels.
Air pollution and PM particles affect not only the cardiovascular system, but also the respiratory system, and contribute to chronic lung diseases, lung cancer and malignant tumors in some other areas. During these months, I strongly recommend that people minimize their outdoor activities i.e. their direct exposure to polluted air, and if outdoors – to wear masks with a Hepa filter that does not let PM particles through. This does not only apply to those with cardiovascular and respiratory problems or the elderly population, but to all people, with particular emphasis on young children.
How can modern technology help cardiovascular patients in monitoring their condition, or everyone else in the early detection of the first symptoms and the decision to seek advice and help from professionals in time?
Answer: Modern technology in the form of modern medical equipment in recent decades has led to more accurate diagnosis of various pathological conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. On the other hand, innovative technological possibilities significantly improve the treatment modalities of these patients. Modern technology allows wide availability of various applications that aim to promote health and a healthy lifestyle (eg. step counters, calorie consumption, healthy diet guidelines, etc.). Finally, we should not forget the influence of the media and the wide Internet distribution of information concerning healthy lifestyle and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Every year the World Heart Day is celebrated on September 29th. This year’s global campaign runs under the motto #UseHeart to encourage people to think differently and better, to make wise and courageous decisions in caring for the cardiovascular and overall health of themselves and others.
Therefore, be wise, love your heart and if you are a man over 40 and a woman over 50, go to regular preventive cardiology examinations at least once a year.
Prim. Asst. Dr. Emilia Lazarova Trajkovska Spec. Internist Subspec. Cardiologist University Clinic for Cardiology Skopje