Cardiometabolic diseases are a group of disorders that affect the heart, blood vessels, and metabolic system. These diseases include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Although they are responsible for a significant burden of illness and death worldwide, they are often overlooked. Here are some reasons why we aren’t taking cardiometabolic diseases seriously.

Lack of Awareness

Much of the population is unaware of the severity of cardiac diseases and the subsequent risks of leading an unhealthy lifestyle that promotes it.

Generally, people associate disease only with things that are visibly apparent to the human eye such as cancer. However, it is not always true; diseases such as heart diseases may linger on for years without anyone noticing.

Misconceptions

Many myths surrounding disease exist that prevent us from taking them seriously. Some people wrongly assume that only older adults and people with a genetic predisposition are at risk for heart disease and other cardiometabolic diseases.

The reality is that these diseases can impact people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Preventive Measures

There are many preventable diseases today that can be avoided with the right tools and information. However, some believe that they have to sacrifice the pleasure of their food and lifestyle to stay healthy. This is a significant misconception.

Living a healthy life can be incredibly enjoyable and fulfill the individual’s well-being.

Burden of Responsibility

There is a heavy burden on healthcare providers when it comes to addressing the cardiac disease issue. Patients come in with late-stage complications, which often leaves the healthcare sector working to mitigate the burden of disease.

Healthcare is necessary, but the goal should be to reach the disease before it gets out of hand, and that comes down to creating awareness and proactively promoting healthy practices in society.

Cost of Treatment

Cardiometabolic diseases are costly to treat and often require long-term treatment. This can deter people from seeking medical attention, thereby prolonging the critical stages of their disease and putting them at risk of further complications.

This is another reason why we should focus on preventing diseases from occurring in the first place.

Unhealthy Habits

It is easy to develop unhealthy habits that negatively impact our lives. Overeating, not exercising, and smoking put us at risk of cardiac diseases and exacerbating the symptoms of existing cardiac diseases.

Breaking these habits can be challenging, but with the right support and incentive, it can be done.

Environmental Influences

Our environment also has a significant impact on our health. Access to fresh, healthy food, safe environments for exercising, and air pollution are just a few ways in which the environment can influence our health.

Addressing these environmental factors is crucial to improving public health and preventing cardiac diseases.

Stigma Attached to Mental Illness

As per recent findings, people with any mental illness are ten times more likely to get cardiac arrest, that the rest of the population. This data highlights the strong link between mental and cardiovascular health.

However, mental health is often stigmatized, which may delay diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases in people with mental illness. It is essential to address mental health issues alongside physical health issues to prevent and treat cardiometabolic diseases.

Education and Empowerment

Underlying all these reasons is the need for education and empowerment. People need education on diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits that can help prevent cardiac disease.

Additionally, people need to feel empowered to take control of their health and change their habits. Empowerment comes from knowledge, understanding the benefits of healthy lifestyle practices, and recognizing that cardiac disease is preventable.

Conclusion

Cardiometabolic diseases are a growing concern in society. The root causes of these diseases are multifactorial, but the solution lies in taking the issue seriously.

Through education, empowerment, and proactive interventions, we can help prevent and treat these diseases and improve the overall health of the population.