COMMENT — From Tobacco to Salt: Five Rules for a Strong Heart

ROME, September 26 /ATSH-ANSA/ — Zero tobacco, daily physical activity, a Mediterranean diet with less salt, monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and personalized prevention.

These are the five key rules for protecting heart health, recalled by the HCF “For Your Heart” Foundation of hospital cardiologists of ANMCO, ahead of World Heart Day, marked every year on September 29.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death and hospital admissions in the world. According to the foundation, prevention is one of the most powerful tools for reducing risk, as about 80% of cardiac events can be avoided by changing key risk factors.

“Prevention is the most powerful weapon. About 80% of cardiac events can be avoided by changing key risk factors,” emphasized Furio Colivicchi, president of the foundation.

According to him, there are now also very effective treatments for controlling risk factors such as LDL cholesterol and hypertension. “Doing prevention also means making sure that every person receives the right treatment,” said Colivicchi.

ANMCO president Massimo Grimaldi also underlined the importance of early identification of high-risk persons and their follow-up by the health system, calling primary prevention a central element of health care.

The five rules for the heart

1. Complete smoking cessation

The first measure for protecting the heart is the complete cessation of cigarettes and tobacco products. According to the foundation, smoking accelerates atherosclerosis and significantly increases the risk of heart attack.

2. Regular physical activity

At least 150 minutes of physical activity per week is recommended to fight inactivity and prolonged sitting. Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure, improve the cholesterol profile, increase insulin sensitivity, and control body weight.

3. Mediterranean diet and less salt

The Mediterranean diet should include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish, especially blue fish.

At the same time, limiting fatty red meat, salami and processed meat products, butter, and fried foods is advised.

Special attention is paid to salt, whose consumption is recommended to be limited to less than 5.0 grams per day.

4. Control of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar

Prevention requires continuous monitoring of key risk factors. Among the values mentioned by the foundation are arterial pressure around 120/80 mmHg or lower as the ideal value, while the LDL cholesterol target varies depending on the individual level of cardiovascular risk.

For blood sugar, the mentioned value is below 100 mg/dL. Monitoring of waist circumference is also recommended, which according to the cited guidelines should not exceed 102 centimeters in men and 88 centimeters in women.

5. Personalized prevention and check-ups

Finally, periodic check-ups are recommended depending on age, clinical history, and individual risk factors. Basic examinations may include a resting electrocardiogram, periodic blood pressure measurements, and blood tests.

When there are special clinical indications, the doctor may request other examinations, such as color Doppler echocardiography, exercise testing, or carotid artery echo-color Doppler, to assess the condition of the arteries and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques.