The vital ruler of all organs - including these attributes belong to the heart - is also commemorated on the occasion of World Heart Day, which is the last Sunday of September each year. Heart and vascular diseases are among the most serious causes of incapacity for work worldwide, and at the same time constitute the largest proportion of hospitalizations. Even in Slovaks, circulatory diseases have a clear primacy when staying in hospital compared to all other diagnoses. The National Health Information Centre statistics show that more than 4 thousand patients with acute coronary syndrome were hospitalized in Slovakia last year, most of them in the age group 45-64. Moreover, cardiovascular diseases are affecting young people more and more. The risk of heart attack and stroke can be reduced especially in healthy lifestyles. As we have also committed in the government's programme statement, the Ministry of Health aims to prevent and strengthen medical equipment, said Minister of Health Marek Krajčí. Cardiology is a medical field, which is refined in Slovakia - we have top cardiology institutes, they are among the excellent workplaces, which on a daily basis make life-saving performances enabling higher quality of life. It also involves children's patients, we finish with the construction of a new Children's cardiocentre, where children's patients are provided with truly sophisticated care By the end of the year, this long dream will be a reality, said Marek Krajčí. Slovakia also consults countries where a heart transplant programme is being implemented. According to data from the National transplant organization, 140 people have had heart transplants in Slovakia in the last 5 years until now. The Ministry of Health supports this programme, our intention is to make it more effective so as to save more patients for whom transplantation is the only treatment option. The most common risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases are: high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, stress, smoking, excessive drinking, high cholesterol, unhealthy eating, and resulting overweight and obesity. Diagnoses that may reveal a preventive examination include heart rhythm disorder and high blood pressure. It is therefore extremely important that all insured persons make use of their legal rights.

Preventive checks are covered by public health insurance and it is up to everyone to take advantage of this possibility to protect their own health.