World Heart Day heightens public vigilance against cardiovascular diseases
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Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer. However, 80 per cent of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases are preventable by limiting risk factors and practising heart-healthy behaviour, such as eating well, becoming more active, not smoking and refraining from alcohol drinking.
In Hong Kong, cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. In 2022, there were 10 665* registered deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases, including 6 791* deaths due to heart diseases. The Population Health Survey 2020-22 adopted the Framingham Risk Model to predict the risk of cardiovascular outcomes including coronary heart diseases, strokes, peripheral artery diseases and heart failure. Among local land-based non-institutional asymptomatic persons aged 40 to 74, 18.4 per cent were classified as high risk with cardiovascular risk 20 per cent or more over the next 10 years. The proportion of persons classified as high risk was much higher in males (34.0 per cent) than females (4.9 per cent) and increased with age from 1.1 per cent among persons aged 40 to 44 to 44.5 per cent among persons aged 65 to 74.
To promote heart health and beat cardiovascular diseases, members of the public are urged to lead a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and limiting the consumption of fat, salt and sugar; engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (such as brisk walking) or an equivalent amount of physical activity throughout the week; limiting the time spent being sedentary; saying no to tobacco; and refraining from alcohol consumption.
Apart from healthy living, another key to lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases is screening for "Triple H" (high blood pressure, high blood glucose and high blood lipids) with early intervention if indicated. Members of the public can consult doctors about screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia.
The DH will continue organising health promotional campaigns using a variety of strategies to increase people's health literacy and enhance public awareness about the importance of healthy living in reducing the risk of heart disease, as well as working in close partnership with other government departments and community partners to foster a health-enhancing environment.
Members of the public can get more information about cardiovascular diseases at the latest Non-Communicable Diseases Watch article (www.chp.gov.hk/en/resources/29/283.html) issued by the DH. For more information about healthy living, please visit the Change4Health website of the DH at www.change4health.gov.hk/en/.
* Provisional figures
Ends/Friday, September 29, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
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