General
Monitoring BMI and Blood Pressure Can Help Prevent Heart Attacks: Cardiologist Advises 'Know Your Numbers'
On World Heart Day, cardiologist Chahinda Ghossein from Erasmus MC’s Hart- en Vaatinstituut debunks five myths regarding heart attack risks. She emphasizes that while genetic factors and birth conditions influence risk, 80 percent is linked to modifiable lifestyle factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and sedentary habits. Ghossein warns that heart attacks can affect younger individuals due to stress, poor lifestyle, or drug use, and notes increased risks for pregnant women over 35 due to age-related vascular changes and chronic stress. She urges regular monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, and waist circumference, stating that early prevention is crucial because vascular damage accumulates over decades before symptoms appear around age 50.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's