Reader’s opinion|The obesity of Finns and the increase in inactivity threaten the previous achievements of public health work.
Cerebrovascular disorders are a significant group of national diseases, which involve a lot of functional impairment, human suffering and costs. In Finland, the acute treatment of cerebrovascular disorders is of high quality, and in our university hospitals it is even at an international top level. However, even these diseases are easier and cheaper to prevent than to treat.
In the fifty-year-old North Karelia project, simple diet and lifestyle changes were able to significantly reduce sudden cardiac and vascular deaths, especially among young and middle-aged men (HS 24.4. and 26.5.). Nowadays, our public health is challenged by the aging of the population and the proliferation of new cardiovascular disease risk factors: two-thirds of Finnish adults are overweight, and the endurance fitness of conscripts has collapsed in a couple of decades.
This development causes big problems unless it can be reversed. The UKK Institute has estimated that overweight and inactivity already cause additional costs for healthcare of up to 4.7 billion euros annually.
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Excess weight and immobility cause large expenses.
In the United States, the Simple Seven program is underway, which focuses on seven basic things for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Four of these are related to healthy lifestyle choices. These include not smoking, avoiding obesity, a healthy diet and regular exercise. The other three are related to measuring blood pressure, blood sugar and blood fat values and bringing them to the target level.
Is encouraging that these cornerstones of health can be achieved with quite simple means and inexpensively. Brisk regular walking helps with weight control, lowers blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, adult-type diabetes and even memory disorders, improves sleep and supports mental health. Sufficient daily exercise brings all the health benefits of aerobic exercise without special skill requirements, expensive equipment or a separate exercise place.
Quitting smoking not only saves health but also money. Early diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure and diabetes effectively reduce the incidence and costs of long-term complications associated with the diseases.
Finns weight gain and increased inactivity threaten the previous achievements of public health work. Change for the better requires active action and cooperation at many levels – from citizens to health care, ministries and the Government Council.
It is worth investing in the prevention of cerebrovascular disorders and other circulatory diseases. We need a new, country-wide North Karelia project to secure the physical and cognitive functioning of our population both during working age and in retirement years.
Jori Ruuskanen
docent of neurology, specialist in pharmacology and medical treatment, Tyks Neurokeskus
chairman, cerebrovascular disorders section, Finnish Neurological Association
Mika Martikainen
professor of neurology, University of Oulu
chairman, Suomen Aivot ry
Valtteri Kaasinen
professor of neurology, University of Turku
chairman, Finnish Neurological Association
The reader’s opinions are speeches written by HS readers, which are selected and delivered by the HS editors. You can leave an opinion piece or familiarize yourself with the principles of the pieces at www.hs.fi/kiryotamielipidekeisuis/.
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