Cardiovascular Health: Prevention Is the Best Medicine

How can we delay—or even avoid—non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, which affect over 2 million people in Switzerland (FOPH 2020) and account for a massive 80% of healthcare costs?
Through prevention.

Both high cholesterol and hypertension are “silent” conditions (often symptom-free and therefore diagnosed late) that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular complications and may lead to stroke.

Cholesterol and hypertension are major health risk factors, but they are often manageable. For example, the WHO estimates that reducing cholesterol levels by 10% in a 40-year-old man could cut cardiovascular disease risk by 50% over a five-year period—mainly through preventive measures.

But what kind of prevention?

Vaccines? They are certainly the best protection against many infectious diseases—but there is no vaccine against high cholesterol or smoking-related heart attacks.

Medications? Not particularly useful or effective for people who’ve never had a cardiovascular event. In primary prevention, if 100 people take statins to lower cholesterol, only one will avoid a major cardiovascular event after 2.5 years of treatment—without any effect on mortality—according to a meta-analysis published in JAMA (November 2020).

Supplements? Those containing plant-based polyphenols may offer some benefit, but they must be paired with lasting lifestyle changes.

⸻

A Simple and Meaningful Acronym: SANTÉ (“HEALTH”)

This French acronym (Sport, Alcohol, Nutrition, Tobacco, Environment) outlines 5 simple, evidence-based, and effective guidelines for healthy living and reducing cardiovascular risks or maintaining a strong immune system:

• S – Sport / Stay active: Aim for daily movement—walk, take the stairs, ride a bike. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week, broken into sessions of at least 10 minutes, has been shown to benefit health. [1]
• A – Alcohol / Drink moderately: No more than 1–2 glasses of wine per day. Recent studies suggest even lower amounts may further reduce health risks. (WHO)
• N – Nutrition / Eat well: Follow the 3V rule:
• Variety: Fresh, local, seasonal foods
• Whole (Vrai): Avoid ultra-processed foods
• Vegetal: Eat mostly plant-based, especially polyphenol-rich foods, and limit meat.
Eat slowly, mindfully, and enjoyably. [2]
• T – Tobacco / Quit smoking: Even one cigarette per day increases health risks. Smoking leads to an average loss of 10 years of life, causes nearly 10,000 premature deaths annually in Switzerland, and costs billions. [1]
• E – Environment / Choose clean, natural surroundings: Regular contact with nature benefits both body and mind. It regulates the immune system (reducing allergies and infections) and improves mental well-being by reducing stress. [3]

80% of cardiovascular diseases could be prevented by following these lifestyle guidelines (WHO)

So why do these conditions still affect so many people?

If the solution were simple, everyone would follow it. But all components of SANTÉ involve habits and behaviors—and changing long-established routines, often formed in childhood or adolescence, is no easy task.

Beyond lifestyle advice, regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks are recommended, especially after age 50. A personalized approach remains key:
Consider the whole person, assess individual health risks, provide objective information, motivate change, address doubts, and always offer compassionate, continuous support.

By Dr. François Héritier

[1] https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/gesund-leben/gesundheitsfoerderung-und-praevention/praevention-nichtuebertragbare-krankheiten/ab-heute-vorbeugen.html
[2] https://theconversation.com/alimentation-protegez-votre-sante-et-la-planete-grace-a-la-regle-des-3v-117033
[3] https://www.revmed.ch/RMS/2020/RMS-N-714-1/Contact-avec-la-nature