On World Heart Day, Hospital de Clínicas emphasizes the importance of prevention

On this Monday (29), World Heart Day is celebrated, a date established by the World Heart Federation, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), to raise public awareness about the importance of preventing cardiovascular diseases – the leading causes of death worldwide. Every year, around 17 million people lose their lives due to heart problems globally.

In Brazil, according to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC), cardiovascular diseases account for 30% of recorded deaths in the country, which corresponds to 400,000 deaths per year. In Pará, according to data from the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), only between January and July 2025, there were 2,100 hospitalizations due to heart attacks. In 2024, this number reached 3,285 hospitalizations.

Reference in cardiology in Pará - In the state public network, the Gaspar Vianna Hospital Foundation (HC) is a reference in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of medium and high complexity in cardiology. The president of HC, Sipriano Ferraz, emphasizes that prevention should come first.

“The Gaspar Vianna Hospital is a reference in cardiology and has the mission of caring for the heart health of the people of Pará. More than offering technology and specialized teams, we want to remind that prevention is fundamental. Heart Day reinforces the importance of simple daily actions, such as eating well, exercising, and controlling risk factors, which can make all the difference for a healthier life,” he highlighted.

Experiences and overcoming - Young Kézia da Silva, 22, a resident of Marabá, knows firsthand the importance of cardiological treatment. At 11, she underwent her first heart surgery at the Hospital de Clínicas. After the procedure, she believed she did not need to continue medical follow-up and stopped treatment. More than a decade later, she began to experience complications and needed to return to HC, where she has been hospitalized for just over a month for a new surgery, this time for valve replacement.

“I thought I didn’t need to continue treatment, but then I started feeling very unwell and had to come back. I already knew the Hospital because my first surgery was done here. The care is very good, the team has taken care of me, and I am very grateful for SUS and all the assistance I am receiving,” she reported.

Another patient, Inês Magno, 47, a resident of the Águas Lindas neighborhood in Ananindeua, discovered a heart condition during a hospitalization for dengue and pneumonia. The tests conducted also identified a case of moderate pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium, the two-layer membrane surrounding the heart). With no history of heart-related symptoms, she says the diagnosis was unexpected.

“I have never had heart problems. This is my first time at the Hospital de Clínicas, and I can only be grateful. My treatment is only with medication, and I am already feeling much better. The entire team, including doctors, nurses, psychology, and social services, has been very attentive. I am being very well cared for and will soon be discharged,” she said.

Prevention and risk factors - High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and smoking are among the main risk factors that compromise heart health. Often, the symptoms are not characteristic and can manifest as common signs, such as headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, or blurred vision.

Experts warn that care should be doubled for men over 45 and women over 55, but prevention should start earlier. The recommendation is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, avoid smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, refrain from drug use, engage in physical activities, and have regular medical check-ups.

Text: Tamiris Amorim