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Your heart
Your
heart is an amazing organ that - together with arteries, veins and
blood - makes up an extraordinary system. The human heart is a little
bigger than your fist but it is very strong: during a lifetime it can
beat 3,5 billion times. If you put together the other components of the
cardiovascular system (arteries, veins and capillary) end to tail, you
can reach twice the length of the Earth’s circumference. However,
despite its great characteristics, the cardiovascular system needs to
be in perfect form to work correctly. The health of your heart is very
important
for your health. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are in fact
the main cause of death of men and women in Europe accounting for over
4.35 million deaths each year (nearly half 49% of all deaths)*. Reading
the different part of this section you will learn how your heart looks
like, how it works and how to keep it healthy. Together with anatomic
structure and function of cardiovascular system, it is possible to get
some basic information about the most common cardiovascular diseases
and their treatments.
CVD, is not
only a disease of the elderly. The social and sanitary burden of CVD
in Europe is considerable. Recent statistics* reveal that CVD causes
nearly half of all deaths in Europe (49%) - accounting for over 4.35
million demises each year - and a little less in the EU (42%). Its
estimated cost for the EU economy reaches €169 billion a year.
You can do much to reduce your individual risk of CVD and keep your heart in a good condition. The first step is Prevention.
The second step - elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the disease
and find effective clinical treatments - concerns all the scientists
that are interested in understanding this disease.
The scientific community of the EVGN is especially dedicated to shed light on this problem. Their efforts and commitment are directed towards the whole mankind. So that everybody's heart can keep on beating actively and vigorously.
* Source "European cardiovascular disease statistic. 2005". British Heart Foundation.- Cardiovascular Diseases
- The Cardiovascular System