Cardiovascular disease is the main threat to human health and currently the leading cause of death, with different distribution characteristics in different regions. Understanding the characteristics of cardiovascular disease epidemiology has enlightening significance for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, and helps to find timely and effective strategies to cope with the epidemic of cardiovascular disease. So what are the characteristics of cardiovascular disease? What are the epidemiological characteristics and distribution patterns? What are the preventive measures? Let's take a look together.
The incidence of cardiovascular disease is characterized by three highs and one slowness:
High incidence rate: the number of patients with cardiovascular disease accounts for about 41% of the total population.
High mortality rate: In China, the number of people who die from cardiovascular diseases each year exceeds 3 million, and the number of people who die from stroke and coronary heart disease accounts for 70% of the total national mortality rate.
High disability rate: 90% of cardiovascular disease patients have sequelae, such as inability to engage in heavy physical labor, chest tightness, shortness of breath, etc.
Slow recovery: After the onset of the disease, the recovery of nerve tissue damage is very slow, often leaving sequelae.
What are the epidemiological characteristics and distribution patterns of cardiovascular diseases?
1. Regional distribution characteristics
For example, the incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke varies from country to country in the world. In the West, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria and the United States have the highest incidence, while Sweden, Gland, Switzerland and Canada have the lowest incidence rate. Japan and China have higher incidence rate in the East, while incidence rate in Thailand and Indonesia is relatively low.
The epidemic trend of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China has the following three characteristics: firstly, the prevalence in the north is higher than that in the south; Secondly, urban areas are higher than rural areas; Thirdly, the Han ethnic group is higher than the minority ethnic group. We can see from the characteristics of these three epidemic trends that generally speaking, the incidence rate of people with high living standards is relatively high, the incidence rate of people with good health conditions is also relatively high.
2. Seasonal distribution characteristics
The incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is significantly higher in winter than in summer. Coronary heart disease occurs frequently between December and February, and the number of patients is significantly higher than that in summer, while January is the peak of the disease. Stroke can occur almost all year round.
3. Population distribution characteristics: For male patients over 40 years old, the probability of developing the disease doubles for every 10 years of age increase. For females, the disease occurs ten years later and approaches that of males after menopause. The incidence and mortality of stroke also increase significantly with age. The incidence rate of coronary heart disease patients is 7 to 1 for men before 50 years of age, and the ratio of men to women after 60 years of age is basically the same, which may be related to the withdrawal of postmenopausal estrogen protection of cardio cerebral vessels in women. The gender difference in stroke is basically not significant, at around 1.2:1 (the ratio between males and females), and there is not much statistical difference. Therefore, epidemiology believes that the incidence ratio of males and females is consistent.
So, how to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases?
1. Quit smoking
Smoking is one of the causes of vascular failure. Research has found that smoking while staying up late can increase blood viscosity by more than 8 times compared to normal levels.
2. Maintain healthy eating habits
The diet should be balanced and reasonable. On weekdays, avoid the "four highs" diet of high sugar, high oil, high fat, and high salt.
In addition, it is important to regularly eat eight foods: hawthorn, oats, black fungus, kumquats, eggplants, sweet potatoes, garlic, and onions. They have a good effect on unclogging blood vessels and maintaining the elasticity of blood vessel walls. According to the new version of the Chinese Dietary Guidelines for Residents, the recommended daily water intake for healthy adults has been increased from 1200 milliliters to 1500-1700 milliliters. Drinking more water is beneficial for diluting the blood and relieving the degree of blood viscosity.
3. Strengthen Exercise
Stick to exercising 5 days a week, mainly with various aerobic exercises such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, etc., supplemented by gymnastics that helps muscles stretch and joints soften. Even mild muscle strength exercises can effectively improve blood circulation.
4. Control key indicators
Pay extra attention to key indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, uric acid, weight, etc., and strictly follow the physician's guidance for intervention.
Understanding the pathogenesis, epidemiological characteristics, and distribution patterns of cardiovascular diseases can help us better prevent them. Cardiovascular disease is preventable and controllable, and the most important thing is that prevention and treatment must be implemented before the onset of cardiovascular disease. A healthy lifestyle centered on "reasonable diet and physical activity" is the most necessary measure for preventing cardiovascular disease.