Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death both in Portugal and worldwide. However, proper prevention can reduce almost 90% the risk of developing an acute myocardial infarction, stroke, among other potentially fatal cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular prevention should start as early as possible in our life. Despite this, most people only consider their cardiovascular risk after the age of 40 or when they have already had the first symptoms or signs of illness. A study recently published confirms the importance of promoting health in young adults to reduce the chance of developing cardiovascular disease. In this study, 4836 young adults aged 18 to 30 years were analyzed and their cardiovascular health index was determined, based on seven individual characteristics, namely: Healthy diet , assessed with a questionnaire that included the frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, fish, milk and dairy products; Physical exercise practice , quantified by minutes of moderate-intense physical activity performed weekly, ideally at least 150 minutes per week; Tobacco consumption , obviously not being consumed; Weight , being considered ideal a body mass index (BMI) < 25kg/m 2 ; Normal blood pressure , that is: Systolic or “maximum” blood pressure < 120 mmHg; Diastolic or “minimum” blood pressure < 80 mmHg. Total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL; Fasting blood glucose < 100 mg/dL. Based on the presence and absence of each of these seven characteristics, the cardiovascular health of young adults was classified into: Excellent; Moderate; Poor. Study participants were followed for 30 years. The main findings of this study were: Young adults with excellent cardiovascular health were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, including dying from these diseases. When young adults with excellent cardiovascular health were compared with young adults with poor cardiovascular health, the former had a 70% -90% lower risk of developing cardiac events during their lifetime, up to 50-60 years of age. In an era in which more and more children and young people are overweight, sedentary and consume unbalanced diets, this study reminds us that the promotion of a healthy lifestyle should start as early as possible in life for an effective prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Reference Perak AM, Ning H, Khan SS, Bundy JD, Allen NB, Lewis CE, et al. Associations of late adolescent or young adult cardiovascular health with premature cardiovascular disease and mortality. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020;76:2695-707. Author : José Ferreira Santos December 2020 Meet the cardiology team from Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
