A preventive approach is and will always be the best tool to reduce the incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases in the population, mainly those related to our heart muscle (Heart Diseases). However, a large part of our patients suffer from one or several cardiovascular disease entities, among them: arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, valve diseases, to mention the most frequent.
The importance of both primary (supposedly healthy patient) and secondary (reducing the risk of complications in sick patients) prevention is based on the fact that cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death internationally, mainly in Western countries (as described by the World Health Organization) 1, which is why it constitutes a health problem for all professionals in the sector.
The substrate for this is multifactorial causes, including modifiable risk factors (sedentary lifestyle, fat food, salty food, alcoholism, smoking, stress, use of oral contraceptives, use of steroids, obesity, etc.) and non-modifiable factors (sex) . , age, race, genetic predisposition, etc).
It is known that arteriosclerosis is (physiologically) the common point of most chronic non-communicable diseases.
What has gone wrong in all these years and what can we act on?
There are causes in which only the governmental disposition could achieve a long-term change, especially in countries with low economic resources. Reduce the consumption of legal (alcohol and caffeine) and illegal drugs, poverty, hunger; Increasing access to education and health are essential goals to change habits on a large scale. We could talk about these issues for hours.
Getting a person to change habits is not easy, it requires adequate advice and follow-up, and most of all, the patient's own will to change.
Not surprisingly, in many countries, massive educational campaigns (television spots, posters, conferences, workshops, face-to-face talks and debates, etc.) are developed for this purpose.
Smoking, alcohol and drug cessation consultations per se, play a vital role, together with community or family medicine.
Personally, I usually personalize my behavior in each patient. Here we call it dispensing (classifying the patient according to their state of health to draw up preventive, curative or rehabilitative plans).
an optimistic but firm approach, while conveying confidence, often goes a long way; although we know that there are reluctant patients, even if their survival depends on it.
You can do it! One day at a time! Cheer up!...
Creating good routines and healthy habits is the course I always set, and I guide my patients to that end.
In the case of the patient, adherence to treatment is one of the mantras that I usually repeat. Poor adherence is one of the causes of complications in this population group.
making the patient understand that "he is sick" is important from two points of view; the first, in the case of the typical “I live the crazy life”, the most likely to dismiss their condition and not comply with medical indications; while the second would be those cases in which the world falls apart and they focus so much on their state (superlative degree), that they tend to waste the main object for which we work, in my opinion: incorporate the individual with the best condition into society. possible. We usually call these cases here as "positive hospitality."
Ah, but what happiness that disciplined and enthusiastic patient who comes to us and meets our expectations! The middle point.
Hence, there is a strong psychological component to achieve in order to have an impact on the lives of others. The follow-up of the traced behavior is therefore vital.
Live, but live with the best quality of life!
reference:
1. WHO. The WHO reveals the main causes of death and disability in the world: 2000-2019. (Internet) Access. 7-02-2023. Available at: Подробнее ➤
