Description of the health problem

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Poland and worldwide. Mortality in Poland for this reason is among the highest in Europe. Modern lifestyle unfortunately favours the development of cardiovascular diseases. The most significant factors include:

- arterial blood pressure (RR value > 140/90 mm Hg),
- lipid metabolism disorders (elevated blood concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, triglycerides and low HDL- cholesterol),
- smoking - promotes coronary heart disease, often accompanied by stress that raises blood pressure and causes circulatory overload
- low physical activity = atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, myocardial infarction
- overweight = coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension (every extra kilo means more work for our heart, fattening of the heart weakens its function and leads to heart failure).
- irrational nutrition - promotes overweight and increases blood cholesterol levels
- impaired glucose tolerance,
- increased fibrinogen levels,
- increase in uric acid concentration,
- excessive stress,
- age,
- male gender,
- genetic load.

Lack of prevention and underestimation of risk factors lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and ultimately heart failure.

Who is the programme aimed at?

The programme is addressed in particular to persons burdened with risk factors, declared to a primary care physician and aged 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 this year, who have not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease so far and who have not used the services provided under the programme (also at other providers) within the last 5 years.

Screenings under the programme

Tests can be performed by your primary care physician without a referral, who will examine, among other things, your cholesterol and blood glucose levels and assess your risk of these diseases.

- Measurement of blood pressure - blood pressure is indicated by 2 numbers - the first is always higher and indicates systolic pressure (i.e. measured immediately after the contraction of the heart, i.e. when the blood wave passes through the artery); - the second is lower and indicates diastolic pressure (measured when the pulse wave disappears).

- Normal blood pressure value: 120/ 80 mmHg - maximum normal value: 135/85 mmHg We speak of arterial hypertension when, during repeated measurements, taken at rest, the pressure exceeds the limits considered normal. Elevated blood pressure causes a number of adverse changes in the blood vessels, heart, kidneys and brain. Untreated, it can lead to stroke, ischaemic disease and heart attack. People with hypertension are much more likely to develop myocardial insufficiency and other cardiovascular diseases than people with normal blood pressure.

- Determination of BMI - body mass index (weight in kg is divided by height in metres raised to the second power -kg/m2) -normal weight (BMI) 18.5-24.9 - overweight - BMI above and equal to 25 - obesity grade I: 30-34.9 - grade II obesity: 35-39,9

- Cholesterol and triglyceride testing.

Cholesterol is a fatty chemical compound essential for life; it is commonly divided into good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.

- LDL - 'bad cholesterol' - A low level of LDL is beneficial for health. If the level is too high cholesterol deposits in the arteries and accelerated atherosclerosis and narrowing of the arteries occurs. An unhealthy diet high in animal fats increases LDL cholesterol levels.

- HDL - 'good cholesterol', has anti-atherosclerotic properties. A high level of HDL is beneficial for health. In some people, an excessively high cholesterol level is genetically determined, but in most cases high cholesterol is the result of a faulty diet. A cholesterol test allows us to assess whether there is a lipid disorder in our body. The test called 'lipidogram' usually assesses the concentration of several parameters: cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol.
- In addition to these parameters, one more is important: triglycerides. Excessive triglyceride concentrations increase the risk of atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease.

Normal values:

Total cholesterol - below 190 mg/dl (5.0mmol/l )
- LDL cholesterol - less than 115 mg/dl (3.0mmol/l )
- HDL cholesterol in women - 46 mg/dl (1.2 mmol/l ) and above
- HDL cholesterol in men - 40 mg/dl (1.0 mmol/l ) and above
- triglycerides (TG) - below 150 mg/dl (1.7mmol/l)