It is a silent disease. A large part of our population is familiar with some of the other so-called “classic” cardiovascular risk factors. Among these, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity are well-recognised.

Other equally important risk factors are now emerging, with sleep quality being one of the factors that has attracted the most interest in recent years. We either sleep too little or too much, with around 7 hours of sleep per night being considered ideal in terms of cardiovascular risk. Napping can be harmful for those who sleep more than this amount per night.

Other emerging factors include those of psychosocial origin. Economic difficulties stand out among these, which have become more common in recent years due to the pandemic and wars.

It has long been known that the poorest individuals have the poorest health, especially cardiovascular health. Living alone and having few social relationships – an increasingly common situation – is also detrimental to health. Loneliness is a source of anguish and depression.

Chronic anxiety, especially induced by professional or family reasons, is generally negatively related to hypertension. Portugal is known for experiencing these situations. The job market has become increasingly precarious, and family structures are no longer as stable as they once were, leading to high divorce rates and an increase in single-parent families, often associated with economic decline. These factors, combined with the shift towards a service-based urban society, have exacerbated loneliness and social exclusion.

Lastly, another emerging risk factor that is significant in terms of cardiovascular risk is pollution. Pollution, in both developed and developing countries, has the potential to cause disease. The air we breathe can induce an inflammatory reaction at a systemic level, ultimately leading to dysfunction of the endothelium, the innermost layer of the arteries, which is crucial for the development of atherosclerosis, the most common vascular disease.

Pollution also disrupts the balance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation, affecting arterial motility and blood pressure regulation. Additionally, ambient noise pollution is another often overlooked source of pollution that contributes to worsening cardiovascular risk.

Preventing cardiovascular disease is a shared responsibility, particularly in addressing modifiable risks such as regular blood pressure monitoring, physical activity, and a balanced diet.

But now knowing these new risks, it is also our responsibility to ask for help from professionals who can help us, namely by improving sleep quality and mental health.

For more information please contact Grupo HPA Saude on (+351) 282 420 400.