Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases claim approximately 20 million lives each year, with coronary artery disease being the most common form. Despite significant advances in modern medicine, including improved diagnostic techniques and treatment options, CAD continues to be a major public health concern in Cyprus.
According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Society of Cardiology, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death on the island. At the same time, specialists note a positive trend: thanks to modern treatment methods, improved access to cardiology services through the GESY healthcare system, and the growing emphasis on preventive medicine, mortality from myocardial infarction has gradually declined. However, the number of people living with chronic coronary artery disease continues to increase, largely due to an aging population and the growing prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles.
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease develops when the heart muscle receives an insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. This occurs because the coronary arteries—the blood vessels that supply the heart—become narrowed. In most cases, the underlying cause is atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol and other substances gradually accumulate on the inner walls of the arteries, forming atherosclerotic plaques.
This process develops slowly and may continue for decades. As long as the narrowing progresses gradually, a person may experience no symptoms at all. However, as the disease advances, the heart begins to suffer from an inadequate oxygen supply, particularly during physical exertion or emotional stress. If blood flow becomes completely blocked by a blood clot, myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurs, a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
How Common Is Coronary Artery Disease in Cyprus?
Although Cyprus is traditionally associated with a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle, statistics show that cardiovascular diseases remain one of the country's most significant health challenges. According to various estimates, approximately one-third of all deaths on the island are related to cardiovascular diseases, with coronary artery disease representing the leading cause.
Specialists attribute this not only to increasing life expectancy but also to changing dietary habits. Younger generations are increasingly replacing the traditional Mediterranean diet with fast food, sugary beverages, and highly processed foods. At the same time, obesity and type 2 diabetes have become more prevalent, significantly accelerating the development of atherosclerosis.
How Cyprus' Climate Affects Heart Health
The warm Mediterranean climate offers many health benefits, but high temperatures also place additional stress on the cardiovascular system. During the summer months, the body loses considerable amounts of fluid, increasing the risk of dehydration and making the blood more viscous. As a result, the heart must work harder, and people with existing cardiovascular conditions face a greater risk of complications.
Furthermore, during the hottest months of the year, many residents reduce their physical activity and spend most of their time indoors in air-conditioned environments. This lack of exercise gradually becomes another important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
For this reason, physicians recommend scheduling walks and exercise during the early morning or evening hours, maintaining adequate hydration, and paying close attention to any changes in well-being during periods of extreme heat.
Which Factors Increase the Risk?
Modern research demonstrates that most cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable. The most significant include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes mellitus, excess body weight, and smoking. Chronic stress, insufficient physical activity, and an unhealthy diet also play an important role.
Although the likelihood of developing coronary artery disease increases with age, the condition is now being diagnosed more frequently in middle-aged adults. Individuals with a family history of myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death are also at higher risk, making regular preventive examinations particularly important.
Early Symptoms That Should Never Be Ignored
The most characteristic symptom of coronary artery disease is pain or a feeling of pressure behind the breastbone. These symptoms usually occur during physical exertion, climbing stairs, brisk walking, or emotional stress and typically improve with rest. The discomfort may also radiate to the left shoulder, arm, neck, lower jaw, or the area between the shoulder blades.
However, the disease does not always present in a typical manner. In some patients, the first signs include shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, a sensation of insufficient air, or a reduced ability to tolerate physical activity. These atypical symptoms are particularly common in older adults and people with diabetes. For this reason, any persistent change in physical condition should prompt medical consultation.
Modern Diagnostic Options
Today, cardiology offers a wide range of methods for the early detection of coronary artery disease. During the initial consultation, the physician evaluates cardiovascular risk factors, measures blood pressure, and may order laboratory tests to assess cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
If coronary artery disease is suspected, additional diagnostic procedures may include electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, exercise stress testing, 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, coronary computed tomography (CT), and coronary angiography. Thanks to modern diagnostic technologies, the disease can often be detected before serious complications develop, allowing treatment to begin at an early stage.
Prevention Begins Long Before Symptoms Appear
Coronary artery disease is one of the conditions whose development is strongly influenced by lifestyle and regular health monitoring. For this reason, prevention remains the most effective strategy for reducing its impact. Regular blood pressure measurements, monitoring cholesterol and blood glucose levels, maintaining a healthy body weight, and engaging in regular physical activity can significantly slow the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction.
Nutrition is equally important. Numerous studies, including the landmark PREDIMED trial, have demonstrated that the traditional Mediterranean diet significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, legumes, and olive oil helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduces chronic inflammation within the blood vessels.
For residents of Cyprus, these recommendations should be followed while taking the island's climate into account. During periods of hot weather, maintaining adequate hydration, avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and planning physical activity during the cooler morning or evening hours help reduce cardiovascular strain and lower the risk of complications in people with existing heart disease.
Regular preventive medical examinations are equally important. Many vascular changes develop silently over many years without causing noticeable symptoms. Early diagnosis makes it possible to identify coronary artery disease before clinical manifestations appear. Modern diagnostic methods allow physicians to evaluate cardiovascular health, determine an individual's level of risk, and initiate treatment when necessary at an early stage.
Caring for heart health is a lifelong habit rather than a one-time effort.
The earlier preventive measures become part of daily life, the greater the chances of maintaining good health, physical activity, and a high quality of life for many years. For this reason, cardiologists encourage people not to wait until symptoms develop, but to undergo regular health screenings and seek medical advice whenever changes in their health or well-being occur.
