According to Professor, Doctor, Doctor Do Doan Loi, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. It is estimated that out of every 100 deaths, more than 30 people die from cardiovascular disease, one person dies every 1.5 seconds. It causes the death of 20.5 million people in the world, so it is called the number one killer.

Among these, the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction is extremely high. Currently, in Vietnam, each year about 300,000 people die from these two diseases and for every 100 deaths, more than 30 people die from these two diseases.

Statistics show that Vietnam is among the countries with the highest risk of stroke in the world. For every 4 people over 25 years old, one person is likely to have a stroke in the future.

Alarmingly, the number of stroke and heart attack patients is getting younger. 20% of heart attack patients in the world are under 40 years old. In Vietnam, specialized cardiovascular and stroke hospitals have recorded many patients in their 20s to 30s who have suffered from stroke and heart attack. The reason is that young people today eat a lot of fast food, are addicted to cigarettes, drink a lot of alcohol, beer, stimulants, carbonated soft drinks, use phones and computers constantly, live a stressful, fast-paced life and have little exercise. These are risk factors leading to stroke and heart attack.

"Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest stroke rate in the world, which can cause cerebral embolism and cerebral hemorrhage. The later stages are also very serious. If not fatal or comatose, the patient may experience many complications (cognitive impairment, speech disorder, hemiplegia, epilepsy, convulsions, etc.). This is an extremely heavy burden for the family and society," Professor Loi analyzed.

According to Professor Loi, myocardial infarction and stroke have different symptoms, but they both have the same risk factors. These are common diseases in the elderly but are increasingly common in young people. The main risk factors can all be changed to reduce the incidence of the disease. The disease is preventable.

According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, Vietnam had nearly 160,000 people die from stroke due to cerebral embolism and cerebral hemorrhage. Normally, out of 3 people with ischemic stroke, 2 will die or have severe sequelae requiring care within 5 years after the stroke.

With hemorrhagic stroke, 3 out of 4 people die or are left with complications, requiring care for many years. With myocardial infarction, the survival rate is only about 60% and also leaves a state of disability, causing a burden on the family and society.

Dr. Azumi Ishizaki, Internal Medicine Specialist, Japan Internal Medicine Association shared: “The main risks of cardiovascular diseases in Vietnamese people are ranked from high to low, including high blood pressure, smoking, high blood sugar, high blood fat and obesity. Thus, for Vietnamese people, improving the condition of high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood fat, obesity...; not abusing alcohol, not smoking, controlling reasonable weight, exercising and doing appropriate physical exercise will help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases”.

According to Dr. Azumi Ishizaki, people often think that cardiovascular disease is a disease that suddenly appears one day, but this is not a disease that occurs suddenly. Before a stroke or heart attack occurs, the body already has signs. Therefore, prevention plays a very important role.

Japan, like some developed countries in the world, has been successful in reducing mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases through prevention and treatment of risk factors (hyperlipidemia, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.), improving diet, maintaining an active lifestyle, etc...