200,000 Vietnamese people die from cardiovascular disease every year.

"World statistics show that Covid-19 is the third leading cause of death, while cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death," said Associate Professor Pham Manh Hung, Director of the National Institute of Cardiology, at the event.DayWorld Heart Foundationmorning of September 24th.

Each year, cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the leading cause of death, claiming 17.9 million lives. In Vietnam, approximately 200,000 people die from this disease annually, accounting for 33% of all deaths. Among cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery disease and stroke are the leading causes of death or disability.

According to statistics from the National Heart Institute, the prevalence of hypertension in adults is 25%, meaning one in four adults has hypertension. Hypertension increases the risk of death from stroke by four times and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by three times, compared to those without the condition.

According to Mr. Hung, cardiovascular disease is often thought to only affect older people. However, in reality, "the frequency of the disease in young and middle-aged people is higher than we think." It can happen to anyone, at any age, and the age of onset is getting younger and younger.

"Young people often assume they are not at risk of getting sick, so they become complacent and do not take proper preventive measures. This places a great burden on patients, their families, and society as a whole," Mr. Hung said.

500 residents of Bac Ninh province underwent cardiovascular disease screening on September 24th. Photo:Tran Hai

Experts believe that industrial lifestyles, environmental pollution, overweight, obesity, etc., have led people to face non-communicable diseases, endocrine disorders, cancer, and especially cardiovascular diseases.

Common reasons for the increase in cardiovascular disease among young people include alcohol abuse; smoking (both active and passive); lack of exercise; being overweight; a history of diabetes and hypertension; staying up late; and stress.

For the general public, experts offer eight tips for a healthy heart, including: controlling weight, losing weight (if overweight). Not smoking cigarettes or tobacco. Not consuming excessive animal fats. Not eating salty foods (reducing salt intake to less than 6 grams per day). Walking 10,000 steps daily. Limiting alcohol consumption. Avoiding anxiety and stress; creating a peaceful and happy life for oneself. Regularly checking blood pressure. Periodically checking other risk factors (blood sugar disorders, blood lipid disorders, etc.) to promptly control these risk factors.