Diseases from this group represent a major factor in disabling the population and reducing the quality of life.
In Central and Eastern Europe, there is a pronounced tendency to increase cardiovascular incidents. Although deaths from cardiovascular diseases are decreasing on the European continent, the number of people living with such diseases is increasing in parallel.
The well-known major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include smoking, elevated blood pressure and serum cholesterol, lifestyle, dietary habits, and physical activity. Other factors that are involved are obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol use, and stress.
Regular physical activity favorably affects the risk of cardiovascular events, confirms a large study in China published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). A publication in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation demonstrates that sports activity increases levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which transports it from the blood vessel wall to the liver.
The current study included nearly half a million people with no known cardiovascular disease. The established overall benefit of increased physical activity exceeds the effect of some of the most established cardiovascular prevention medications.
Every 4 MET (metabolic equivalents) hour per day of total physical activity is associated with a 6 percent reduction in the risk of significant cardiovascular diseases—myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, angina pectoris, and others. A metabolic equivalent is the ratio of energy expended during a given activity to energy expenditure at rest.
The data from the cited studies are in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which encourages daily moderate physical activity of at least 20-30 minutes.
The organization of the public environment is important, especially in rapidly developing larger cities and megacities. The construction of bike lanes, for example, not only encourages more frequent cycling but also contributes to healthier living conditions by reducing car traffic and the associated air pollution.