Hypertension is when blood pressure, that is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of our arteries, is consistently elevated above normal range.

Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The first number is called the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and represents the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats. The second number is called diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.

Hypertension is diagnosed when a person’s systolic blood pressure is ≥ 140 mmHg and/or their diastolic blood pressure is ≥ 90 mmHg, following repeated office exanimation*.

*Note: The SBP and DBP upper limits for the initiation of treatment as well as the therapeutic target are individualized based on the patient's medical history.

Hypertension is a common chronic medical condition which, if not treated promptly and efficiently, is an important risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, stroke and heart attack, as well as developing renal disease. For this reason, it is essential to be detected and treated -on a regular basis based on the instructions of the attending physician- as soon as possible.

Most people with hypertension don’t feel any symptoms. Therefore, periodic check of blood pressure is important in order to achieve early diagnosis.

However, there are additional risk factors that may affect the possibility of developing hypertension, such as:

• Older age
• Family history of hypertension
• Οbesity
• Smoking history
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High salt intake diet
• Alcohol consumption

The prevalence of hypertension in Greece seems to be increasing and affects more than 30% of adults.

Lifestyle changes may prevent or decrease high blood pressure. Such modifications are the following:

• Increased intake of vegetables and fruits (potassium intake)
• Regular physical activity
• Weight reduction
• Moderation of alcohol consumption
• Smoking cessation
• Reduce stress and induce mindfulness

In the case that the impact of lifestyle changes is not enough to achieve the therapeutic target, then the patients may need to additionally take pharmacological treatment to control hypertension.

This is intended for general information purposes and is no substitute for advice from a physician or another competent Health Care Professional.

Stable coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Stable angina is the most prevalent manifestation of Coronary artery disease and is a pathological process characterized by atherosclerotic plaque accumulation in the epicardial arteries.

Angina is pain or constricting discomfort that typically occurs in the chest ( but may radiate to the neck, shoulders, jaw or arms) and is brought on by physical exertion or emotional stress. Shortness of breath may accompany angina, and chest discomfort may also be accompanied by less-specific symptoms such as fatigue or faintness, nausea, burning, restlessness or a sense of impending doom. Shortness of breath may be the sole symptom of stable coronary artery disease and it may be difficult to differentiate this from shortness of breath caused by other (non-cardiac) situations e.g. pulmonary.

As recognized by the 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines, angina is associated with reduced physical endurance and repeated hospitalizations, leading to an overall decline in the patient's quality of life.

One of the main goals of pharmacological management of stable angina, simultaneously with the recommended treatment of cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, is to improve the patient's quality of life by reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms.

This is intended for general information purposes and is no substitute for advice from a physician or another competent Health Care Professional.

Dyslipidemia is classified into 2 types: primary and secondary. Primary dyslipidemia is basically inherited and caused by single or multiple gene mutations. Secondary dyslipidemia is caused by unhealthy lifestyle factors and acquired medical conditions, including underlying diseases and applied drugs.

Dyslipidemia is generally asymptomatic and is diagnosed accidentally or via screening .The main laboratory test for diagnosis is fasting lipid test (profile), and the patient must fast for at least 12 hours before taking the blood sample.

The most commonly associated clinical consequence of dyslipidemia is increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which is associated with elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (ΤC), triglycerides (TGs), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), as well as depressed high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C. Secondary predisposing factors, in particular obesity and type 2 diabetes, are often present.

According to The 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines on dyslipidemia emphasize a risk-based approach to management. They advocate for personalized treatment strategies based on an individual's overall cardiovascular risk, which considers factors like age, blood pressure, smoking status, and family history. The guidelines provide specific LDL cholesterol targets based on risk categories, with lower targets recommended for higher-risk individuals. Furthermore, these clinical trials have clearly indicated that the lower the achieved LDL-C values, the lower the risk of future cardiovascular (CV) events,

For people with dyslipidemia, the most important thing is the appropriate medication, the change in eating habits, the increase in physical activity and weight management.