Public Health Specialist Prof. Dr. Yasemin Açık pointed out that circulatory system diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, are the number one cause of death in Turkey in a statement made on the occasion of World Heart Day on September 29.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 32 percent of global deaths occur due to cardiovascular diseases with approximately 18 million people a year. The picture is similar in Turkey. Circulatory system diseases ranked first with 33.4 percent in TurkStat's death and cause of death statistics for 2023. When the details of this disease group are examined, it is seen that 42.4 percent of deaths are caused by ischemic heart diseases, 24.1 percent by other heart diseases and 18.6 percent by cerebrovascular diseases. Public Health Specialist Prof. Dr. Yasemin Açık made a statement on the occasion of World Heart Day on September 29, saying that cardiovascular diseases can be prevented to a large extent by improving behavioral factors and made suggestions.
“It is possible to prevent 80 percent of deaths due to heart diseases”
Prof. Dr. Yasemin Açık emphasized that some of the major risk factors for heart diseases such as age, gender and family history cannot be changed. Prof. Dr. Açık stated that especially if there is a family history of these diseases, controls should be carried out regularly, and early diagnosis and treatment are vital. Pointing out that behavioral factors constitute the biggest major risk factors for these diseases, Açık said, “According to WHO data, more than three-quarters of deaths from cardiovascular diseases occur in low and middle-income countries. This actually points to the effects of behavioral factors on the disease. Obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use are among these factors. If risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood cholesterol are identified and treated, and people adopt healthy living habits, early deaths can be prevented. According to statistics, it is possible to prevent 80 percent of deaths due to heart diseases.”
''Environmental and psychosocial factors negatively affect heart health”
Reminding that he did his doctoral thesis on coronary heart disease risk factors, Prof. Dr. Açık emphasized that environmental and psychosocial factors brought by modern life also negatively affect heart health. Prof. Açık continued as follows:
''Air pollution, irregular sleep, workload, pressures related to the social environment and long-term stress are among the factors that pave the way for heart diseases. For this reason, we should take steps to protect not only our physical health but also our mental and emotional health and lead a more balanced life.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20240927AW296202