PRIMARY PREVENTION OF ARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO YOUNG PEOPLE: ONLINE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE RESOURCES

Aldo Tommaso Marrocco

Abstract


This paper presents online informative and educational documents downloadable for free on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases per 100,000 people ranges between 512.9 in Uzbekistan and 60.4 in South Korea, which suggests the potential for improvement, thanks to public health efforts and education. The article pays special attention to young people; in fact, a healthy lifestyle with physical activity and a well-balanced diet is easier to acquire at a young age and then easier to maintain into adulthood. The documents presented hereafter discuss the mechanisms by which elevated blood pressure, high levels of lipids and sugar in the blood, obesity, tobacco and alcohol use increase our risk of cardiovascular diseases, and what we can do to mitigate the risk. Some countries, thanks to increased tobacco tax, have reduced their consumption among young people in particular, with the related earmarked money used to promote sport activities. A pack of cigarettes in Australia may cost nearly 26 US$. A lifestyle aimed at cardiovascular prevention often reduces the risk of other diseases, including cancer. The quality of life is largely the result of environmental and societal conditions; poor urban planning, for instance, may limit the safe and easy mobility of people and the availability of healthy, affordable food. Worldwide, insufficient physical activity is responsible for more than 5 million deaths per year across all age groups. Globally, 80% of adolescents do not meet the recommended level of physical activity; a long time spent glued to the screen is associated with sedentary behaviour, higher intake of ultra-processed unhealthy food, and reduced scholastic achievement. Clearly, school education and parental example are of the utmost importance.

Keywords


online educational resources, cardiovascular prevention, young people, healthy lifestyle

Full Text:

PDF

References


Mayo Clinic, (2013). The Heart and Circulatory System - How They Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWFyxn0qDEU

NHS, (last reviewed 2022). Cardiovascular Disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/

American Heart Association, (last reviewed 2024). What Is Cardiovascular Disease? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease

Our World In Data. Cardiovascular Diseases. https://ourworldindata.org/cardiovascular-diseases?insight=the-global-death-toll-from-cardiovascular-diseases-has-grown#key-insights

Murray C.J.L. et al., (2025). Report: cardiovascular diseases caused 1 in 3 global deaths in 2023. https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/report-cardiovascular-diseases-caused-1-3-global-deaths-2023#:~:text=CVD%20remains%20the%20leading%20cause,of%20all%20CVD%20DALYs%2C%20respectively

Seaton M. and Beckerman J., (2025). Effects of High Blood Pressure on Your Body. What Does High Blood Pressure Do to Your Body?

American Heart Association. Health Threats from High Blood Pressure. Health Threats from High Blood Pressure | American Heart Association

National Hearth, Lung and Blood Institute High Blood Pressure, (last updated 2024). High Blood Pressure Causes and Risk Factors. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure/causes

Mayo Clinic, (2024). High blood pressure (hypertension). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410

Choi E. G. et al., (2011). The Impact of Bladder Distension on Blood Pressure in Middle Aged Women. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3383137/

American Heart Association, (2020). How to accurately measure blood pressure at home. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/05/22/how-to-accurately-measure-blood-pressure-at-home#:~:text=It's%20important%20to%20use%20a,is%20the%20ideal%20blood%20pressure

Klonizakis M. and Mitropoulos A., (2023). Assessing the effect of regular swimming exercise on the micro- and macrovascular physiology of older adults (ACELA II study). https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Between-and-within-group-comparison-of-micro-and-macrovascular-function-and-quality-of_tbl2_373885307

Tschentscher M, and Niederseer D, (2013). Health Benefits of Nordic Walking a Systematic Review. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/s0749-3797(12)00710-6/fulltext

NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (last updated 2025). DASH Eating Plan. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/dash-eating-plan

World Health Organisation, (2025). Sodium reduction. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sodium-reduction

Lee J.Y. and Lee D.C. (2014). Cardiac and pulmonary benefits of forest walking versus city walking in elderly women: A randomised, controlled, open-label. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382013001662?via%3Dihub

Harvard Medical School, (2010). 10 tips for exercising safely. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/10-tips-for-exercising-safely#:~:text=Plan%20to%20start%20slowly%20and,for%20your%20type%20of%20exercise

National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, (2025). Exercise and blood pressure. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/managing-risk/blood-pressure-and-your-heart/exercise-and-blood-pressure#:~:text=Regular%20exercise%20is%20one%20of,exercise%20with%20high%20blood%20pressure

Rajagopalan S. et al., (2025). Review Article Environmental Hypertensionology and the Mosaic Theory of Hypertension. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.18733?doi=10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.18733#:~:text=Lower%20neighborhood%20greenery%20was%20strongly,lead%20to%20reductions%20in%20BP

Celis-Morales C.A. et al., (2017). Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study. https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/357/bmj.j1456.full.pdf

Snedeker J.G. and Gautieri A., (2014). The role of collagen crosslinks in ageing and diabetes - the good, the bad, and the ugly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4241420/#:~:text=The%20low%20biological%20turnover%20of,accumulation%20of%20AGEs30%2C31

Cui C. et al., (2023). Diabetes, glycemic control and arterial stiffness: a real-world cohort study in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10713938/

Catalano M. et al., Arterial Stiffness: A Review in Type 2 Diabetes. https://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/45339/InTech-Arterial_stiffness_a_review_in_type_2_diabetes.pdf

Cleveland Clinic, (2025). Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Symptoms & Treatment

Animated Diabetes Patient, (2014). Understanding Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAjZv41iUJUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAjZv41iUJU

Hyde L., (2021). Glycemic index. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85CksrhnPCM&t=2s

Kratz M., (2023). The Glycemic Index and Health Outcomes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fmlyz6i3kw

Kratz M., (2023). How to Avoid Blood Sugar Spikes (Without Reducing Carb Intake). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg0Y3eNSANg

Avena N., (2023). Are We All Addicted to Sugar with Nicole Avena, PhD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia5aqJ2uNPE

Avena M.N. et al., (2007). Children's Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption: Striking Parallels With Substance Use Disorder Symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7689136/

Cleveland Clinic, (2023). How To Break Your Sugar Addiction. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-stop-sugar-cravings

British Heart Foundation, (2015). Stroke, clogged arteries and atherosclerosis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0URnn3Wwws

MedlinePlus, (last updated 2019). Cholesterol Good and Bad. https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-videos/cholesterol-good-and-bad/

American Heart Association, (2025). Trans Fats. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/trans-fat

World Heart Federation, (2025). Cholesterol. https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/cholesterol/#:~:text=Globally%2C%20raised%20total%20cholesterol%20affects,Oceania%20and%20central%20Latin%20America

Medline Plus, (last updated 2025). Triglycerides. https://medlineplus.gov/triglycerides.html#:~:text=Factors%20that%20can%20raise%20your,Cigarette%20smoking

Kratz M., (2025). The Surprising Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate for Diabetes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JLUipIcots

World Health Organisation, (2019). To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more. https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2019-to-grow-up-healthy-children-need-to-sit-less-and-play-more

OECD, (2024). Students, digital devices and success. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/05/students-digital-devices-and-success_621829ff/9e4c0624-en.pdf

Votsi I.C. and Koutelidakis A.E., (2025). How Screen Time Affects Greek Schoolchildren’s Eating Habits and Functional Food Consumption?—A Cross-Sectional Study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12030657/

World Health Organisation, (2025). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

Volpe M. and Gallo G., (2023). Obesity and cardiovascular disease: An executive document on pathophysiological and clinical links promoted by the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC). https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1136340/full

National Cancer Institute, (Reviewed 2025). Obesity and Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20a%20disease%20in,causes%20(2%E2%80%935)

World Health Organisation, (2024). Physical activity. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

Mendez I., et al., (2019). Impact of the Physical Activity on Bullying. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01520/full

Hormazábal-Aguayo I. et al., (2019). Can a before-school physical activity program decrease bullying victimization in disadvantaged children? The Active-Start Study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1697260019300559#bib0050

City of Whittlesea, (2016). Benefits of walking to school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UutqClXbkY8

Harvard Medical School, (2025). Exercise & fitness. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/exercise-and-fitness

Kratz M., (2025). How Different Dietary Fibers Impact LDL-Cholesterol, Insulin Resistance, and Cardiovascular Risk. https://nourishedbyscience.com/fiber-and-ascvd/

Prathima Hospitals, (2021). The Effects of Too Much Fiber on Your Body. https://prathimahospitals.com/blog/effects-of-too-much-fiber-intake/

Rosqvist F. and Niinistö S., (2024). Fats and oils – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10870979/

Rodríguez-Barniol M. et al., (2024). Screen Time Use and Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Adolescents: A Focus Group Qualitative Study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212267224002028

L.R.D. de Menezes, R.C.V. e Souza, P.C. Cardoso, L.C. dos Santos, (2023). Factors associated with dietary patterns of schoolchildren: A systematic review https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/11/2450

Papier K. et, (2021). Meat consumption and risk of ischemic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2021.1949575#abstract

World Health Organisation – Europe, (2025). Effects of tobacco on health. https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/effects-of-tobacco-on-health

Rose J.J. et al., (2023). Cardiopulmonary Impact of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001160?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

World Health Organisation, (2026). Raising taxes on tobacco. https://www.who.int/activities/raising-taxes-on-tobacco

World Health Organisation, (2016). Earmarked tobacco taxes lessons learnt from nine countries. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/a31562fa-170c-4745-9dfb-9a6024ae6423/content

World Health Organisation, (2021). Countries share examples of how tobacco tax policies create win-wins for development, health and revenues. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/countries-share-examples-of-how-tobacco-tax-policies-create-win-wins-for-development-health-and-revenues

Statista, (20223). Where Smoking Breaks the Bank (& Where It Doesn't). https://www.statista.com/chart/15293/price-for-cigarettes-per-country/#:~:text=Cigarettes&text=Australia%20is%20the%20world's%20most,do%20for%20a%20whole%20pack.&text=The%20chart%20shows%20the%20selling,selected%20countries%20(Sept%202023)

American Cancer Society, (2023). Cancer Facts & Figures 2023. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2023/2023-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf

Piano M.R. et al., (2025). Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001341

Miller A.P., (2024). Still rethinking the J‐shaped curve: A commentary on Kember et al., 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11926663/

Partnership to End Addiction, (2025). Alcohol And Teens: What Every Parent Needs To Know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cAW270NGc

Mikalački M. et al., (2011). Effect of Nordic Walking on Functional Ability and Blood Pressure in Elderly Women. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51770235_Effect_of_Nordic_Walking_on_Functional_Ability_and_Blood_Pressure_in_Elderly_Women

National Cancer Institute, (Updated 2017). Tobacco. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco#:~:text=Tobacco%20use%20is%20a%20leading,Smokeless%20Tobacco%20and%20Cancer

Diabetes UK, (last reviewed 2025). Glycaemic index and diabetes. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/eating/carbohydrates-and-diabetes/glycaemic-index-and-diabetes#:~:text=Diabetes%20and%20glycaemic%20load,for%20choosing%20low%2DGI%20alternatives

American Heart Association, (2025). 5 things parents should know – and do – to keep kids' hearts healthy. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2025/02/13/5-things-parents-should-know-and-do-to-keep-kids-hearts-healthy

Gonzales P.N.G. et al., (2024). Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease With Glycemic Variability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11628202/

Mason A.C. et al., (2026) Disentangling the relationship between glucose, insulin and brain health: A UK Biobank study. https://dom-pubs.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/10.1111/dom.70353

Bosch L.S.M.M. et al, (2019). Associations of extracurricular physical activity patterns and body composition components in a multi-ethnic population of UK children (the Size and Lung Function in Children study): a multilevel modelling analysis. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-019-6883-1

Mayo Clinic Staff, (2023). Mediterranean diet for heart health. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801

Gaul A. et al., How Copenhagen Became a Cycling City. https://toolsofchange.com/en/case-studies/detail/752/

FAO, (2005). Setting up and running a school garden A manual for teachers, parents and communities. https://www.fao.org/4/a0218e/A0218E00.htm#TOC

CDC, (2025). Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/24_0537.htm

Reuters, (2026). From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-europe-countries-move-curb-childrens-social-media-access-2026-03-06/

Vasconcellos R.P. et al., (2025). Electronic Screen Use and Children’s Socioemotional Problems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000468.pdf

Harvard Medical School, (2025). The heartfelt effects of exercise. https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/the-heartfelt-effects-of-exercise




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i1.252

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Aldo Tommaso Marrocco

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2019 - 2026. European Journal of Public Health Studies (ISSN 2668-1056/ISSN-L 2668-1056) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library. All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and standards formulated by Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003) and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003) and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyrights of the published research works are retained by authors.