The Circulatory System Diseases Prevention Programme

The Circulatory System Diseases Prevention Programme is directed to people who are 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 years old and are burdened with risk factors such as smoking tobacco, hypertension and lipid disorders. The programme includes persons who have not been diagnosed with a circulatory system disease so far and who have not received any benefits under this programme for the last 5 years (also from other healthcare providers).

What does the programme propose?

Any person satisfying the above criteria can receive free-of-charge tests in an institution which runs the programme under the agreement with the National Health Fund. Just make an appointment with a primary-care physician.

During an appointment the physician collects the patient’s medical history and completes the prophylactic examination chart, refers for biochemical blood tests (the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood, and LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels in the blood), measures blood pressure, and assesses the BMI (Body Mass Index). During the examination the physician should assess risk factors for circulatory system diseases, allocate the patient to the appropriate risk group and give information about the prevention of circulatory system diseases.

The patients who have been diagnosed with a circulatory system disease receive – depending on the medical indications – advice concerning the necessity to change their lifestyles, or are referred for further diagnostic tests or specialised treatment.

What is conducive to circulatory system diseases?

There are circulatory system diseases risk factors which we don’t have any influence over, for example, advanced age or a family history of heart diseases. However, there are also risk factors which can be successfully combatted and at the same time can lower the probability of disease development. These factors are overweight, abdominal obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking tobacco, lack of regular physical exercises, alcohol abuse, malnutrition and stress.

In order to reduce the chances of developing heart and blood vessel diseases, one must make a decision to change one’s lifestyle for a healthier one – to introduce a proper diet, systematically do physical activities, give up smoking, or limit stress.

According to the report on the state of health of Polish people prepared by the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene (presented in February 2013), circulatory system diseases are the main reason for deaths – due to these diseases 46 percent of our compatriots die.

The purpose of this programme is to lower the incidence of diseases and their mortality rate due to their early diagnosis and the reduction of risk factors through, for example, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.