Cardiovascular diseases remain the No. 1 problem in Bulgaria: How to protect ourselves?

Sitting for over eight hours a day increases the risk of a cardiovascular event by over 120%, said Prof. Iva Gruev, a cardiologist at the National Multiprofile Transport Hospital "Tsar Boris Treti", who participated in Longevity Forum 2.0, organized by the newspaper "Capital". Cardiovascular diseases remain the number one problem in Bulgaria, and the life expectancy of Bulgarian men is the lowest in the EU, the doctor also said. According to him, men in Bulgaria live on average under 74 years, and women – under 80 years. With a change in the way of thinking and lifestyle, including quitting smoking, healthy eating and maintaining optimal body weight, physical activity, enough sleep, knowing the values of blood pressure and blood sugar, better health and more fulfilling years of life will be achieved, he added.  

When risk factors are treated adequately, aging can be normal, physiological, and not premature. Sport reduces cardiovascular events, reduces cognitive problems, and also reduces the risk of cancer and diabetes, Prof. Gruev also pointed out. According to him, sport prolongs a high-quality life, and when exercising our body releases endorphins. For healthy people, 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise is recommended.

The World Economic Forum puts disinformation as one of the biggest risks, and when it is related to health, this is not an abstract risk, said Boryana Pervan, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Executive Director of the World Heart Federation, who participated in the forum online. According to her, there is no sustainable economy and strong society without healthy people. Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death, with around 20% of deaths in Europe due to cardiovascular diseases, while in Bulgaria the data shows over 60%, she pointed out. In Europe, cardiovascular diseases cause 37% of deaths in women, but they are much more often undiagnosed and untreated. Pervan pointed out that Europe has taken a step and stood behind a common plan for cardiovascular health with the ambition to change the negative trend. The World Heart Federation is a unifier of this process, as a voice, insisting not only on analysis, but also on specific solutions. In some countries, prevention plans have already been introduced – Greece, Spain, Slovenia. In Bulgaria, the national plan is being developed at the moment, which provides for early diagnosis, equal access to treatment, rehabilitation and good quality of life for patients. The results will come if this plan is implemented and does not remain only on paper, she added. Prevention requires many times fewer funds compared to the funds needed for treatment, but the most powerful tool for health is physical activity, Perven added.