We hear a lot about heart disease and other problems of the cardiovascular system. It has been a problem that has been faced by scientists and health professionals over many decades. We can be forgiven for thinking that with all the attention it has received and all the money that has been spent in trying to find treatments and cures that the problem would have been solved and that the number of people who are dying from cardiovascular system problems would have decreased. This does not appear to be the case. I find the following information alarming.

Heart disease is the major cause of premature death although the numbers have declined in recent years. There has been great improvement in the treatment of heart disease. There are new drugs that can prevent heart attacks as well as new corrective surgeries that restore the proper functioning of the heart.

Improvement Awareness of Heart Disease

There is also a greater awareness of the preventive measures to minimize heart disease and the controlling measures to reduce the effect of heart disease. The general public is more aware of the importance of proper diet, exercises and the avoidance of tobacco smoking.

However, heart disease is still a serious problem. One should not be lulled into complacency.

Preventing Heart Disease


The importance of proper diet and exercise cannot be over-emphasized. Restriction of saturated fats in the diet is well advised. Exercise for those above the age of 35 should be conducted after consulting a doctor especially if one has been sedentary all along. Long term prevention includes regular check up. Medical check up will not prevent heart disease but early detection can prevent it from becoming a serious problem. Early treatment is a major factor in the success treatment of heart disease. Hence regular check up is important for those with high risk of developing heart disease.

High Risk Group

People with high risk of developing heart disease includes smoker, hypertension suffers, diabetes, the obese and the sedentary. There are also a number of people who are at risk due to genetics. If you have a family history of heart disease, discuss it with your doctor. If you have any of the risk factors, it would be wise to go for regular annual check ups to pre-empt potential heart disease. The smarter thing to do is to negate the risk factors in the first place by quit smoking, eat properly and keep fit through regular exercise.