every half hour, a Romanian dies from a myocardial infarction, and what is even worse, the age at which this serious problem began to appear has decreased significantly.
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The serious problem became increasingly apparent to doctors as more and more patients began presenting with symptoms of a heart attack or pre-heart attack. In a single ward, which usually lasts 24 hours, at the Bucharest University Hospital, approximately 17 patients presented with such symptoms.
And, either because they do not receive proper treatment or because they interrupt it, many Romanians who end up having a second heart attack after surviving the first one, do not have the same luck.
The most common symptoms of such a heart problem are palpitations, fluctuating blood pressure that then becomes hypotensive, and acute chest pain.
A huge problem with heart disease is the decreasing age at which it occurs. “At 18, you get your driver's license, you know how fast to go on the street, but you have no idea what blood pressure you have, what level of cholesterol you have. 1 in 200 are born with a high level of LDL cholesterol. They are the number 1 candidates to have a heart attack at the age of 30-35”, Prof. Dr. Dan Găiță, primary cardiologist, told ProTV.
Regarding the age at which these conditions can appear, Dr. Cristi Udroiu claims that he had to deal with patients and “29 years, 34, 38, 42… The heart attack has no limitsRsit Younger patients than us come with heart attacks”.
Another problem that leads to so many deaths is the carelessness of patients. Many, once discharged, do not show up for check-ups and do not take into account the treatment they must follow for the rest of their lives.
“At the time of discharge, to be sent (no – the patient who suffered a heart attack) to the family doctor, the family doctor to check if all the elements related to secondary prevention and control of risk factors are respected, following somewhere between 4-6 weeks to be the first visit he makes again to the cardiologist”, says Prof. Dr. Dragoș Vinereanu, primary cardiologist.
Also, the Romanian Society of Cardiology produced a manual that the heart attack patient would receive upon discharge, following the model of the European recommendations. The patient's evolution must be monitored by the family doctor in accordance with this document, which will specify the therapeutic changes necessary to control cholesterol, which is one of the main risk factors for the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
“This sheet not only clears up some question marks for the patient, but is also a tool for accountability. The important thing is to convince our patients that they must be taken permanently for life, along with some lifestyle changes, and we start with smoking and sedentarism and obesity”mentioned Dr. Rodica Tănăsescu, family doctor.
Less than 13% of heart attack survivors in Romania reached an ideal cholesterol level, which means their lives were no longer in danger, according to research conducted four years ago. Meanwhile, the circumstances became much more alarming. Now, with a percentage of 9%, Romania is among the lowest in all of Europe.
In the meantime, the government continues to work on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease strategy.
