Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world, how to protect your heart

September 29 is World Heart Day, and cardiovascular disease remains the world's number one killer.

More people die from them than all forms of cancer and chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract combined.

Global challenge: Cardiovascular diseases claim more than 20.5 million lives each year

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart and heart attacks and failure, claim more than 20.5 million lives each year.

That is why the World Federation of Cardiology has started an initiative this year to request a petition to bring an action plan to fight these diseases.

The goal is to collect one million signatures and present them at a United Nations meeting on chronic diseases in 2025, in order to encourage world leaders to take decisive action, reports Index.hr.

What can we do to protect our heart?

The good news is that most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity and excessive alcohol consumption. Key recommendations to maintain heart health include:

Eat healthy and balanced

Exercise regularly and stay physically active

Maintain proper body weight

Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke

Monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar regularly.

Cardiovascular diseases include various diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, and are caused by a combination of socioeconomic and environmental factors. Among the most common causes are irregular diet, tobacco use, physical inactivity, alcohol use, air pollution and high blood pressure and cholesterol. There are also genetic factors such as family history, but also age and other factors.

Most common cardiovascular disease: Coronary artery disease and stroke

Coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction (heart attack) are the most common types of cardiovascular disease, while stroke is also a major risk. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often a separate disease, but it is also an important risk factor for the development of other cardiovascular conditions.

In conclusion, World Heart Day reminds us of the importance of healthy lifestyle habits and preventive measures that each of us can take to protect our heart and overall health.