Chile Promotes Heart Disease Prevention During Heart Month

Each August Chile observes Heart Month, a campaign aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles to curb cardiovascular disease, which remains a leading cause of death in the country. Dr. Andrés Glasinovic, a family physician and academic at the Universidad de los Andes, identifies four common heart conditions—heart failure, coronary disease, arrhythmia, and valve disease—and recommends six concrete lifestyle changes. These include a plant‑based diet rich in whole grains and at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, maintaining a body‑mass index between 18.5 and 25, quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol. A Chicago Heart Association study suggests such measures could reduce coronary events by up to 90%.

The campaign stresses that regular medical check‑ups, weight management, diabetes control, and stress reduction further lower the risk of heart attacks and other serious cardiac events. By adopting these habits, individuals can significantly protect their heart health during and beyond Heart Month.