Prof. Dr. Dursun Dursunoğlu, Faculty Member and Head of the Department of Cardiology at PAU Hospitals, shared the following information in his statement: Let us protect our cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death both worldwide and in our country. The most important cause of a heart attack is the narrowing or sudden blockage of the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle. We can explain this with a simple example. Let us think of the heart muscle as a field and the coronary arteries as the irrigation channels that water this field. If an artery becomes narrowed or blocked, sufficient blood and oxygen cannot reach that part of the heart. First, a dysfunction occurs in the heart muscle; if the artery becomes completely blocked and is not reopened in time, permanent damage to the heart muscle, that is, a heart attack, may occur. Therefore, the most important issue is actually to control risk factors before arterial blockage occurs. There are risks that we cannot change, such as having a family history of heart disease at an early age. However, we can control many risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet.”

Prof. Dr. Dursunoğlu: “Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and weight control are of great importance for heart health.”

Stating that we should first stay away from smoking, control our weight, regularly monitor our blood pressure and blood sugar, and not neglect our cholesterol in order to protect our heart, Prof. Dr. Dursun Dursunoğlu said, “If possible, we should engage in regular physical activity every day and aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. In terms of diet, it is important to prefer a Mediterranean-style diet. We should consume vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, olive oil, whole grains, and moderate amounts of nuts, while avoiding sugary drinks, excessive salt, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates as much as possible. Excess weight makes it easier for many problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, and sleep apnea, to develop. Therefore, weight control is also an important part of heart health. Finally, if we take medications for blood pressure, diabetes, or heart conditions, we should use them regularly as recommended by our doctor and should not miss our check-ups. Let us remember that protecting heart health is far more valuable than treating heart disease after it develops. The small but regular changes we make to protect our hearts can make a major difference in the future.”