Cardiovascular risk prevention

Introduction

The prevention of cardiovascular diseases should have as a common goal the promotion of healthier lifestyles.

This objective should be translated into the implementation of health promotion programs aimed at reducing the incidence, prevalence and complications of cardiovascular risks.

During 2005 and 2006, the Joint Prevention Service of the MAPFRE System studied cardiovascular risk factors workers, based on data obtained from the Health Surveillance.

Of all the cardiovascular risk factors evaluated, the three with the highest prevalence were tobacco, obesity and sedentary lifestyle.

For this reason, the SISTEMA MAPFRE Joint Prevention Service has deemed it convenient to design a series of documents, designed for THE PREVENTION OF OBESITY AND SEDENTARISM.

For the study of obesity and overweight they have been based on the estimates of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO), on the whole of the Spanish population between 25 and 60 years. According to this, the best way to quantify overweight and obesity in general is by studying the Body Mass Index (BMI). We will find this index with the calculation of the quotient between the body weight expressed in kilograms and the height or height expressed in meters squared.

The classification of overweight and obesity according to BMI is:

• Insufficient weight: BMI <20.
• Normal weight: BMI between 20 and 25.
• Overweight: BMI between 25 and 30.
• Obesity: BMI greater than 30.

From the data obtained, we can refer that 45.29% of MAPFRE workers maintain their weight within normal limits, 37.50% are overweight and 11.53% are obese. Only 5.65% keep their weight below normal.

Physical activity workers

For the study of the physical activity carried out, the workers were questioned about the type of physical exercise carried out according to five categories: competition, regular, irregular, sporadic, and sedentary.

The data obtained allow us to establish that only 0.73% perform sports at the level of competition; 37.22% carry out a daily physical activity on a regular basis; 6.44% and 6.81% perform some type of irregular or sporadic physical exercise; and 48.77% are sedentary and do not perform any type of physical exercise.

The main form of action in a prevention campaign should be Primary Prevention and Health Education. We will therefore try to report on the factors that predispose to obesity and overweight, as well as the benefits of doing physical exercise.

The early detection of cardiovascular diseases, their treatment and the avoidance of possible complications, are part of secondary and tertiary prevention and the treatment of diseases requires monitoring by qualified health personnel.

Prevention of obesity and sedentary lifestyle

Goals:

Main objective: Reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Secondary objectives:

To meet the objectives for the prevention of obesity and sedentary lifestyle, the “MAPFRE Joint Prevention Service” has prepared the following documents, which will be published in successive health bulletins:

• Food properties and characteristics by groups.
• Recommendations for a balanced diet.
• Healthy eating pyramid.
• Healthy habits to prevent obesity and sedentary lifestyle.
• Decalogue for the prevention of obesity.
• Physical exercise and cardiovascular diseases.
• Recommendations to improve cardiovascular health doing physical exercise every day.