Navigating Cardiovascular Health in the Modern World

What is Cardiovascular Health?

Cardiovascular health refers to the proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels, ensuring efficient circulation of blood, nutrients, and oxygen throughout the body. The heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries collectively make up the cardiovascular system. When in good health, this system supports overall bodily functions, regulates body temperature, and helps eliminate waste products. Achieving optimal cardiovascular health is essential for maintaining energy, cognitive function, and physical performance.

The Current State of Western Cardiovascular Health

In the Western world, cardiovascular health is at a critical juncture. Chronic heart diseases, strokes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes have surged, marking an alarming public health crisis. Cardiovascular diseases cause around a quarter (27%) of all deaths in the UK, accounting for more than 170,000 deaths annually, or one every three minutes​. To understand the gravity of this situation, let’s delve into each of these conditions in detail.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

CHD reigns as the predominant cause of heart-related deaths, closely followed by stroke, and together they account for over 60% of all heart fatalities​. In the UK alone, CHD is responsible for approximately 68,000 deaths each year, averaging 190 deaths per day​. It is estimated that 2.3 million people in the UK are living with CHD, and CHD claims the lives of one in eight men and one in fourteen women​. Poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and stress are key contributors to the rise of CHD cases in Western countries.

Heart Attack

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when part of the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough blood due to a blocked coronary artery. In the UK, around 100,000 hospital admissions each year are due to heart attacks – that's one admission every five minutes​. While survival rates have improved over the decades, the prevalence of risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes continues to drive the incidence of heart attacks. An estimated 1.4 million people in the UK have survived a heart attack, underlining the growing burden of cardiovascular health management​.

Stroke

Stroke, another leading cause of cardiovascular-related deaths, is responsible for approximately 34,000 deaths each year in the UK​. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK annually – equating to one every five minutes – and around 1.4 million people living in the UK have survived a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)​. The interconnected nature of cardiovascular disorders, including stroke, highlights the importance of addressing shared risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. People with coronary heart disease or who have experienced a heart attack are twice as likely to suffer from a stroke​.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

CAD is characterized by the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which decreases blood flow to the heart. In the UK, CAD rates are highest in Scotland and the north of England​. The financial and personal impact of CAD extends far beyond the immediate health effects, contributing significantly to healthcare costs and economic burden. CAD is a direct result of modern lifestyles, with poor diets and lack of physical activity being major drivers.

Diabetes

Diabetes is another critical component of the cardiovascular health crisis. Over 5.6 million people in the UK have diabetes, with around 90% of those diagnosed living with Type 2 diabetes​. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, with adults with diabetes being nearly twice as likely to die from cardiovascular diseases compared to those without diabetes​. The Western lifestyle, characterised by high sugar intake and obesity, has fuelled the rapid increase in diabetes cases, further complicating cardiovascular health management.

With more than 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK, and projections suggesting this number could increase by 1 million more by 2030, the need for a proactive approach to cardiovascular health has never been more urgent​.

Causes of the Western Cardiovascular Health Catastrophe

The rise in cardiovascular diseases in the Western world can be traced to several lifestyle and environmental factors, often rooted in modern habits and societal changes.

Western Diets

The Western diet, heavily laden with processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, is a primary contributor to poor cardiovascular health. Excess carbohydrate consumption, particularly from refined grains and sugary foods, leads to weight gain and increases the risk of insulin resistance. High sugar intake is a known risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, which, as mentioned earlier, is strongly linked to cardiovascular diseases​. Additionally, the overconsumption of seed oils, which are high in omega-6 fatty acids, contributes to inflammation and oxidative stress, further escalating cardiovascular disease risk. The diet also typically lacks sufficient protein intake, essential for muscle maintenance and metabolic health. This combination of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods has contributed to the prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated LDL cholesterol levels in Western societies.

Lack of Exercise

Physical inactivity is another critical factor in the cardiovascular health crisis. According to recent statistics, more than one in three (37%) adults in the UK do not achieve the recommended levels of physical activity (150 minutes each week)​. Exercise plays a vital role in lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, and maintaining a healthy weight. The current sedentary lifestyle, exacerbated by desk jobs and screen time, accelerates weight gain and decreases heart efficiency, thereby increasing the risk of conditions like CAD and stroke.

Smoking

Despite a decline in smoking rates, it remains a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Smoking damages blood vessels, accelerates plaque buildup, and increases the likelihood of blood clot formation. It's estimated that at least 15,000 deaths from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK each year can be attributed to smoking​. Smokers are at a substantially higher risk of developing CHD, stroke, and peripheral artery disease than non-smokers.

Excessive Alcohol Consumption

While moderate alcohol consumption may have some protective cardiovascular effects, excessive drinking leads to numerous health issues. Nearly a quarter of adults in the UK exceed national guidelines for weekly alcohol intake​. Chronic heavy drinking raises blood pressure, contributes to obesity, and disrupts normal heart function, resulting in conditions like cardiomyopathy. The growing rates of alcohol misuse have increased the incidence of alcohol-related cardiovascular conditions, further straining healthcare systems.

Lack of Early Detection

Cardiovascular conditions often progress silently, with symptoms only appearing in later stages. Around 80% of heart failure diagnoses in England are made in hospitals, despite 40% of patients experiencing symptoms that should have triggered earlier assessments​. Limited access to regular health screenings means many people remain unaware of their risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or early signs of heart disease, until a major health event occurs. This lack of proactive health management exacerbates the cardiovascular health crisis.

How Prana Aims to Tackle This Problem

At Prana, we recognize the complexity and challenges of navigating cardiovascular health in today’s world. We aim to simplify this journey for individuals who may lack the time, knowledge, or access to sift through the often overwhelming and contradictory information available. Our mission is to provide personalised, actionable health insights that enable people to take control of their cardiovascular health proactively, rather than waiting until issues arise.

Personalised Risk Assessments

Prana's approach starts with biomarker analysis, offering users a comprehensive health profile that highlights their specific risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. By examining blood samples, Prana identifies key indicators such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, glucose, and inflammatory markers. This tailored analysis empowers users to understand their cardiovascular risk and identify the most optimal path forward. We don’t just highlight problems; we identify the smallest changes that can have the greatest positive impact on health.

Nutrition Oracle

Our Nutrition Oracle is designed to cut through the noise and provide clear, actionable dietary recommendations. It evaluates food intake and offers personalised guidance to reduce cardiovascular risks. With the Nutrition Oracle, users no longer need to navigate complex nutritional studies alone. We simplify healthy eating by creating tailored plans based on individual health data, lifestyle, and preferences, ensuring that dietary changes are sustainable and impactful.

Real-Time Health Tracking

Prana offers real-time health monitoring through its user-friendly app, continuously tracking vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate. This allows users to stay informed about their cardiovascular health status and make immediate adjustments when necessary. Unlike traditional healthcare models that focus on treating issues after they arise, Prana enables users to take a proactive role in their health journey.

Predictive Health Insights

Our AI-driven predictive analytics go beyond current health statuses by analysing global health trends, personal biomarkers, and lifestyle data. This approach allows us to provide users with early warnings and guidance on potential future health risks. Prana empowers users to make pre-emptive lifestyle changes, reducing the likelihood of experiencing severe cardiovascular events.

By combining advanced technology, personalised insights, and actionable strategies, Prana makes heart health accessible and manageable for everyone. Our goal is to empower users to lead longer, healthier lives by taking control of their cardiovascular wellness today, not tomorrow.

All statistics sourced from the British Heart Foundation