Keeping your heart healthy by modifying your behavior

World Heart Day 2024

More than 600 million people worldwide suffer from Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), and this number is increasing every year due to changing lifestyles. It is also the leading cause of death (about one-third) of people worldwide, with about 56,000 people dying from the disease every 1.5 seconds.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) It is the most common syndrome, with 300 million people worldwide and a major cause of disability or death.

There are 2 types of risk factors for coronary artery disease.

1. Immutable risks such as age, gender, race, genetics
2. Changeable risks, such as smoking. Body weight Dyslipidemia Food Consumption

The best way to prevent this disease is to start prevention when there are no symptoms, minimizing the risk of changeability as much as possible. Disease prevention can be divided into 3 levels:

1. Primary Prevention

For those who do not have symptoms, focus on behavior adjustment.

• Eat a healthy diet, focusing on fruits and vegetables, whole flour rice, plant-based protein or lean meat.
• Avoid foods that contain saturated fats. Foods high in sodium Processed foods and beverages with high sugar content 
• Choose boiled, steamed, blanched cooking methods instead of frying, baking, or grilling.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Exercise 150 minutes per week
• Quit smoking Reduce alcohol consumption
• Regular health check-ups Regularly monitor blood pressure, sugar, and blood lipids.

2. Secondary Prevention

For those with symptoms, the focus is on preventing heart attacks. Cerebral ischemia or disability. Doctors often use medication in conjunction with behavior modification, including diagnostic tests.

• Behavior modification is the same as the first step. 
• Controls blood pressure, sugar and blood lipid levels to normal levels. 
• See a doctor as scheduled, take medication and follow the doctor's instructions.

3. Tertiary Prevention

To reduce the impact of the disease, focus on preventing deaths and improve the quality of life of patients. 

• Treatment is carried out with appropriate medical procedures and equipment such as bypass surgery, stenting, defibrillator, etc.

It can be seen that The best prevention of coronary heart disease On World Heart Day, we invite everyone to start investing in taking care of their heart by having healthy behaviors.

Reference List

1. BHF. Global Heart & Circulatory Diseases Factsheet [Internet]. Birmingham: British Heart Foundation; 2024 Jan [cited 2024 Aug 2]. Available from: https://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/for-professionals/research/heart-statistics/bhf-cvd-statistics-global-factsheet.pdf?rev=%20e61c05db17e9439a8c2e4720f6ca0a19&hash=6350DE1B2A19D939431D876311077C7B
2. Prasad K. Current Status of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease. Int J Angiol. 2021 Aug 25;30(3):177-86.