CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, 6,000 PEOPLE DIE ANNUALLY

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 29 /SRNA/ - Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Republika Srpska, claiming the lives of 6,000 people every year, the Republika Srpska Public Health Institute said on the occasion of World Heart Day.

The Institute noted that more and more young people are suffering myocardial infarctions due to contemporary lifestyle. According to estimates by the Republika Srpska Association of Cardiologists, six to seven heart attacks occur in Republika Srpska every day. Cardiologists at the Republika Srpska University Clinical Centre /UCC/ warn that women face a several-times higher risk of dying from a heart attack and heart disease than from other serious illnesses. Dragana Grujić-Vujmilović, a social medicine specialist at the Public Health Institute, told SRNA that risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, alcohol and type 2 diabetes, but that in most cases cardiovascular disease can be prevented by addressing these factors. Grujić-Vujmilović said that the body sends subtle signals that should not be ignored, such as chronic and unexplained fatigue, exhaustion even after minimal exertion, mild shortness of breath, a sensation of an irregular heartbeat or mild discomfort in the chest that may spread toward the shoulder, neck or jaw. If cardiovascular disease has already developed, it is crucial to detect it as early as possible. Grujić-Vujmilović said that early treatment, professional counselling and appropriate therapy can minimize the consequences and preserve quality of life. "The subtle signals sent by the body should not be ignored," said Grujić-Vujmilović, a social medicine specialist in the field of healthcare organization and economics at the Institute. UCC cardiologists said that Republika Srpska is among the countries with a very high cardiovascular risk, with the main reasons being high smoking rates, an unhealthy diet, obesity and insufficient physical activity. According to data from the Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics, women die from circulatory diseases around 9.2 per cent more often than men. World Heart Day is observed every year around the world on September 29, with the aim of raising public awareness about the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for as many as 20.5 million deaths worldwide every year. In Europe, these diseases cause 42.5 per cent of all deaths, claiming around 4.2 million lives annually.