Dispelling myths about heart diseases
misconceptions about cardiovascular disease – heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure – are for many years and have in fact myths. Most of them come from actual observations during the early phase of the current global epidemic and are deeply rooted in the minds of politicians, health professionals and the public. Since these misunderstandings negative influence on the allocation of resources and undermine measures to prevent and control cardiovascular disease, they must be firmly clamped
Myth 1. Heart disease is a problem of developed countries
every year cause cardiovascular disease, some 15 million deaths in the world (30% of all deaths), and of these about two-thirds occur in developing countries. The absolute number of deaths from these causes is twice as high in developing countries in the industrialized world. Occur more than twice as many deaths from stroke in developing countries than in developed countries, and the number of deaths from heart attacks are in poor and rich countries alike. It is estimated that in China and India together, the change for half of the population of the developing world are caused between five and six million deaths every year from cardiovascular diseases.
Myth 2: Heart disease is a problem of the rich
All Companies are early adopters and late adopters of lifestyle changes. Breakfast was at the heart of epidemic wealthy people in developing countries the means and the opportunity to adopt new forms of life, with behaviors such as choosing foods rich in fat and calories, car purchase and use of tobacco. Since these products have become affordable for mass consumption “unhealthy” behavior of this species has spread across all social strata. Today, wealthy people, especially the urban rich, better access to health information on risk factors in the media and they have the means to change to their behavior in favor of a healthier lifestyle (healthy diet, recreational physical activity, renunciation tobacco). They are the early adopters, while the urban poor and rural communities – with limited access to information and little time or money on “healthy foods” and “health clubs” – are lagging behind. As a result of risky behavior develops, and increase the risk factors.
Recent studies from Latin America and Southeast Asia, where coronary heart disease is most often show that many coronary risk factors more common in people of lower socio-economic performance and the poor, are Indeed, a higher risk of heart attacks.
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In industrialized countries where the epidemic began among the urban rich, although some decades earlier than in developing countries are cardiovascular diseases are now more likely in the relatively poor. If the global epidemic of heart disease is fully developed, the poorest countries and poorest people in society are most affected
Myth 3. Heart disease is usually a man’s disease
While coronary heart disease is generally less common in premenopausal women than in men, which in many parts of the world the most common cause of death in women, including those under the age of 65. Heart disease, and the risk factors, and varies to a surprising extent between populations. For example, women aged 35-64 in Glasgow, Scotland and Belfast, Northern Ireland, have higher heart attack than men in some parts of southern Europe, according to a recent study by the WHO on the development of cardiovascular disease (WHO MONICA Project ).
hypertension and stroke are also major problems that affect women. Given the longer life expectancy of women, they always show to heart and circulatory deaths and disabilities after the sixth decade. The result is concerned that over their lifetime, women and men of heart attacks and strokes – a fact which is long by doctors and health professionals have been neglected, and the women themselves In addition, the pregnancy-associated hypertension important health problem in developing countries where the leading cause of premature birth and perinatal death, and is also responsible for up to one third of all maternal deaths.
Myth 4: Heart disease is a problem of age
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (coronary Heart disease and stroke) and high blood pressure increase with age. But research in developed countries shows that there are about a third of heart attacks and a quarter of strokes in people under 65. Many of the deaths from cardiovascular disease also occur early, a quarter of them at the age of 70 years. In developing countries the situation is even more: up to half of all heart disease deaths occur in people younger than 70, and a large number of adults of working age suffering from these diseases. This has a huge impact on the economic situation of individuals and families and on society as a whole, and hamper efforts to alleviate poverty
fifth Myth: Heart disease is not vulnerable for Community Action
The predominant factors that appear to the risk of cardiovascular diseases are acquired, and his lifestyle-related rather than genetic. Risk factors in a “healthy environment” that supports appropriate lifestyle practices changed, and most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. The prevention of heart disease in humans calls for the active promotion of health in the population.
programs, community mobilization combined with government regulation have been shown by taxation, legislation and price policies are effective in controlling tobacco and promote a healthier diet in many developed countries. From these experiences, it is clear that the Community, national and even global action are key elements in combating the continuing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world. Community mobilization can be best achieved by educating the public, patients, professionals and decision makers, based on advice from health professionals
Myth 6. Heart disease is no longer a public health issue
It’s a common misconception that the burden of cardiovascular diseases decreases. Despite declining mortality, heart disease remains the dominant public health problem in industrialized countries. Eastern European countries are currently experiencing the highest mortality from cardiovascular diseases. An important reason for concern is the projected increase in these diseases in developing countries in the next century. It is predicted that by 2020 the number of deaths from heart attacks and strokes doubled in the developing countries compared with 1990,.
The reasons for this expected acceleration of the epidemic, the increasing life expectancy combined with a reduction in child mortality, compared to unhealthy lifestyle changes associated with industrialization and urbanization and longer exposure Risk factors for heart disease because of improved socio-economic conditions.