Heart disease is the biggest killer of Poles. Why is it so bad?

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Cardiovascular diseases are killing Poles. They are responsible for almost half of all deaths in our country. Mortality rates from heart disease in general place us in the forefront of the world. Why is this happening even though their treatment and diagnosis are improving? The answer was provided by the National Health Test of Poles.

1. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in Poland. Among them, ischemic heart disease, heart failure and atherosclerosis reap the greatest toll
2. The risk of developing heart and circulatory problems increases with age. Moreover, millions of Poles already have ailments that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease
3. A statistical Pole most exposed to heart disease is a forty-year-old man with arterial hypertension, which he may not know, and hypercholesterolaemia, which he may not be aware of. He smokes cigarettes, moves little and is obese
4. Poles are not particularly interested in their health. The National Health Test of Poles 2020 showed how much we neglect our hearts
5. The National Health Test of Poles showed that half of us do not do any sports, we are also stressed, 61 percent has a problem with excessive body weight

Coronary artery disease, heart failure, atherosclerosis – the three biggest killers of Poles

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in Poland. Among them, the biggest harvest is ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary disease (almost 40 cases in 2017). Heart failure ranks second – it is the direct cause of death 22 percent. Poles dying of cardiovascular diseases. Currently, there are about a million people with heart failure in Poland and this number will grow. According to forecasts, among the current XNUMX-year-olds, every fourth man and every fifth woman will develop heart failure in her life. – If we do not do something about it, if we do not start treating these patients – it will get worse – says in an interview with Medonet the President of the Polish Society of Cardiology, Prof. Adam Witkowski.

The third killer among cardiovascular diseases is atherosclerosiswhich kills around 30 people each year. Poles. Stroke and heart attack are also in the lead (15 deaths annually).

The risk of developing heart and circulatory problems increases with age. Moreover, millions of Poles already have ailments that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. – We have 9,5 million people with hypertension, about 18 million people with hypercholesterolaemia (excessive blood cholesterol), most of which do not know about it, we still have about 8 million smokers, 3 million people with diabetes and approx. 6 million overweight people – said Prof. Adam Witkowski. Some people are not aware of it at all.

1. The entire interview with prof. Adam Witkowski

So what does an average Pole most exposed to heart disease look like? “He’s a forty-year-old man who has high blood pressure that he may not know, and hypercholesterolaemia that he may not be aware of either. This man smokes cigarettes, moves little and is obese – describes prof. Witkowski.

Lifestyle destroys our hearts

Where did these sad statistics come from? Poles are not particularly interested in their health – this is one of the most important reasons. Meanwhile, heart and blood vessel diseases are tricky killers. Most of them develop slowly over many years without any obvious symptoms. The first symptoms may appear when the disease is already advanced.

1. Heart disease. What symptoms are worrying?

How much we neglect our hearts was shown by the National Health Test of Poles 2020 (NTZP) – an initiative prepared by Medonet in cooperation with experts in various fields of medicine. Over 400 people participated in the first edition of the survey. respondents.

Good news first. The health of our hearts largely depends on how we live, which means we can influence them. Unfortunately, primary prevention fails the most, that is, we simply lead an unhealthy lifestyle and do not try to change it very much.

Let us recall that cardiovascular diseases are caused by, among others,

1. overweight and obesity
2. smoking
3. lack of physical activity
4. chronic stress
5. drinking a lot of alcohol

Meanwhile, the National Health Test of Poles showed that half of us do not practice any sport (24 percent spend at least two hours a week on exercise, and 13 percent spend less than four hours a month). We are also stressed. The NTZP report shows that 99 percent. Poles experience stress – of which 24 percent daily, and 31 percent. a few times a week.

1. Time to take care of your heart. Results of the National Health Test of Poles

It is also not happy about weight. According to NTZP 61 percent. of the respondents have a problem with excessive body weight (74% of men and 50% of women). 29 percent struggle with overweight. women and 46 percent. men. With obesity – 28 percent gentlemen and 21 percent. Mr.

As much as 30 percent. Poles do not test cholesterol at all

Periodic examinations are also the basis for taking care of the cardiovascular system. The basis of prevention is, for example, regular cholesterol tests and blood pressure measurements. Meanwhile, the report of the National Health Test of Poles shows that only 39 percent. of respondents regularly check the level of cholesterol in the blood. As much as 30 percent. Poles do not test cholesterol at all, and 32 percent. does not remember his last result.

According to the National Health Test of Poles, 26 percent are diagnosed with arterial hypertension. respondents. A large proportion of people may not even know that they have pressure problems because high blood pressure develops slowly and imperceptibly.

1. Hypertension – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. How to take a measurement?

We are more disciplined when it comes to measuring blood pressure than when testing cholesterol. Over the last year, the pressure was measured by approx. 74 percent. Poles. Young people test blood pressure less often – 61 percent. people aged 18-24 have their blood pressure checked regularly. The older the age group, the higher the percentage of people who check the blood pressure – it is as much as 65 percent among people over 91.

How to improve your health?

Let us remember that prevention is better than cure. That is why you have to move a lot, avoid obesity, and give up cigarettes. – These simple things are really effective – emphasizes prof. Witkowski. It is worth showing children what a healthy lifestyle is, ensuring that they have the correct body weight. – If we do not correct the risk factors in children, we will have sick adults in the future – warns the president of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Preventive examinations are also of great importance – thanks to them, it is possible to detect irregularities early, which means effective treatment. You should measure your blood pressure and sugar level at least once a year, and do blood tests once a year, also for cholesterol and creatinine.

In people who have already fallen ill, secondary prevention is of great importance, i.e. controlling the already mentioned risk factors – it is necessary to keep them in check and thus control the disease.

The article was written in cooperation with the Polish Cardiac Society thanks to an unlimited grant from the Polpharma Group.

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