A flash mob for “free the circulation from cholesterol” and remember that controlling cardiovascular risk depends on us. On the occasion of the World Heart Dayyesterday 29 September, in the center of Rome, eleven bulky ‘human’ yellow spheres blocked the passage of pedestrians passing between Largo dei Lombardi, Largo Goldoni, Piazza di Spagna and Via del Corso, exactly like LDL cholesterol (so-called bad’) blocks blood circulation in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. With this particular flash mob, ‘Let’s free circulation from cholesterol’ began, the awareness day with free cardiological screenings organized by Daiichi Sankyo Italia on the occasion of World Heart Day.
The Istat data speak clearly: 9.6 million people in Italy suffer from cardio-cerebrovascular diseasesof which 54% are women. With 800,000 new diagnoses a year, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in our country, responsible for 30.8% of all deaths, i.e. 1 in 3 people dies from these diseases. Hence the idea of the flash mob, the aim of which is to remind us that keeping cardiovascular risk under control is possible, and depends on each of us.
The initiative – reports a note – was sponsored by the Association for the fight against cerebral stroke (ALICe Italia Odv), National Coordination of Heart Associations (Conacuore Odv), Italian Heart Foundation (Fipc), Italian Society for the study of atherosclerosis (SISA) and the support of Roma Capitale. Not only that, thanks to the stand chaired by Federlazio, passers-by were able to check their blood pressure, heart rate, single-lead echocardiogram and measurement of their respiratory rate.
At the stand dedicated to the associations, the ‘Cardiovascular Health Diary’ and a brochure were also distributed to help recognize the first symptoms of stroke, to understand what the optimal levels of LDL cholesterol are depending on one’s cardiovascular risk, as well as useful practical advice for correcting your lifestyle, the first among the modifiable cerebro-cardiovascular risk factors.
“Thanks to the progress of medical research, we have numerous therapeutic tools available to prevent cardiovascular events – explains Alberico Catapano, professor at the University of Milan and Multimedica Irccs – However, solid scientific evidence demonstrates that active, convinced and persistent adherence to healthy behaviors and taking prescribed medications has a very important impact on health. Even better, adhering to and maintaining healthy lifestyles throughout life, with simple measures such as a healthy diet, adequate physical activity, and giving up smoking. and the early identification of cardiovascular risk factors through periodic checks, we can in most cases avoid the onset of a pathology. To achieve this objective, we must persevere in the work of raising public awareness and education.”
Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases include various conditions, often asymptomaticwhich affect the heart and blood vessels and are characterized by fatty plaques that are deposited inside the arterial walls (atherosclerosis), resulting in a reduction or obstruction of the regular flow of blood to the various organs or tissues. Coronary heart disease, for example, affects the blood vessels that supply the heart and can result in angina or heart attack; while peripheral arterial disease affects the blood vessels that supply blood to the extremities (almost always affecting the lower limbs) which causes ischemia; Cerebrovascular disease can be caused by atherosclerosis that affects the blood vessels leading to the brain and can result in an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, when the interruption of blood flow is temporary.
Dyslipidemias are alterations in the quantity of lipids (fats) in the blood and are a risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Lipids travel in the blood bound to proteins, forming lipoprotein complexes different in density, size and composition, including cholesterol bound to low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C) known as ‘bad’ cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( C-Hdl) known as ‘good’ cholesterol. To calculate your cardiovascular risk, you need to contact a specialist who will be able to suggest the best strategies to adopt to keep optimal LDL cholesterol levels under control.
In fact, for those who are at extremely high cardiovascular risk because they have had multiple events, LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 40 mg/dl; in case of very high cardiovascular risk, the reduction in Ldl-C must be greater than 50% compared to baseline, until it reaches values lower than 55 mg/dl. Those considered at high CV risk will have to obtain a reduction greater than 50% compared to baseline, until they reach LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dl. For those considered at moderate CV risk, target LDL-C levels must be less than 100 mg/dl, while those considered at low risk must keep their cholesterol levels below 116 mg/dl.
“We chose this slightly unconventional way of raising awareness – said Joanne Jervis, Managing Director and Head of Specialty Division of Daiichi Sankyo Italia – because we wanted the public to understand the risks of certain cardiovascular pathologies through a plastic and visual demonstration. We are aware of how difficult it is to convince people, whether they are healthy or patients, to take care of themselves through prevention and therapeutic adherence, especially in the case of cardiovascular pathologies which are often asymptomatic or silent and this unfortunately alters the perception of risk , while small measures would be enough to avoid the worst. Daiichi Sankyo has always been committed to prevention education, because we are deeply convinced that our role in maintaining health goes far beyond the development of innovative drugs, our ambition is to improve the quality of life of people as a whole, not just patients”.
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