Using technology to support heart health

If you're on vacation, now's the perfect time to answer a question. Do you know your cholesterol levels? Can I take advantage of this opportunity to ask another one? In the last year, have you contacted a healthcare professional to assess risk factors related to cerebrovascular diseases or events such as stroke or heart attack? We have a survey, and your answers could be very helpful. If you're already back at work, please answer. It's quick, taking less than 30 seconds. Participate HERE .

It's often a cliché, but it's still true: health doesn't take a vacation. I know, you've heard it dozens of times. But, in fact, "it doesn't just happen to other people." Another cliché. I promise it'll be the last. And even though this is the quintessential month of rest, when everything can wait or be postponed until we return to our routines, we know that unexpected events happen and that we can continue to pay attention to our habits.

It was just as I was leaving the beach, during my vacation, that I received the news that Jorge Costa, the former captain of Futebol Clube do Porto and director of professional football, had died at the age of 53 from cardiorespiratory arrest. First, came the shock. Then, the many conversations about the unpredictability of life and how to consider a loss like this so prematurely. The former footballer had already had a heart attack in 2022. At Arterial, we have focused in several articles on the increased risk a person has after a first event . And Observador interviewed Hélder Pereira, cardiologist and former president of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, about the care to be taken after a heart attack. You can listen here.

We've just published an article that will certainly pique the interest of smartwatch users. Journalist Susana Marvão conducted research, analyzed several pages of studies, and spoke with experts about the contribution of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to heart disease prevention.

Counting steps, measuring heart rate and alerting to irregular heartbeats, monitoring sleep and rest, and measuring oxygen levels are some of the features of these smartwatches , whose use is growing, especially among women and men aged 25 to 44. These are some of the many data points you can access in this article about the connected heart, which features images by designer Marina Chen, and where you can access studies indicating that using these watches alerts to symptoms that lead to heart disease, such as arrhythmias. They don't diagnose, but they notify the user, who can then see a doctor and confirm the suspicion.

Despite the advantages for both patients and physicians and other specialists, we heard the other side: what ethical issues might some AI innovations pose? What can we anticipate and expect? How can we balance the benefits with legal or other limitations? We wanted to hear the opinions of Francisco Araújo, an internist, and Miguel Nobre Menezes, a cardiologist. I recommend reading it.

Even though the technology available is a "silent observer," as Susana Marvão points out in her text, the fact is that an in-person consultation makes all the difference. And while we often hear that the gateway to health promotion and disease prevention is an appointment at a health center, we know that more than 1.7 million people do not have a family doctor assigned to them. It's therefore normal for people to "feel lost in the system," as Bruno Moreno, a family doctor and vice-president of the National Association of Family Health Units, put it. The guest on the podcast "If I Were Minister of Health," stated that patients should be "the center of care" and, when "properly monitored, they go to the emergency room less often and have fewer complications." Therefore, we would all benefit, as a country, from ensuring a doctor for every patient. In this conversation, we discussed the barriers family doctors currently face in providing adequate patient care.

In another article, written by Susana Marvão and designed by Marina Chen, some data raises a warning. "In 2023, one person died every hour in Portugal due to cerebrovascular disease. Despite recommendations, less than half of stroke patients have access to specialized hospitalization ." "In several hospitals, stroke units exist, but they don't have the capacity to accommodate all the patients who arrive," explains neurologist and board member of the Portuguese Stroke Society, Diana Aguiar de Sousa. In other hospitals, "the unit has not yet been created," she adds.

Frederico Sacramento had always been an athlete and considered himself healthy before having a heart attack during a trail run in September 2023. "I didn't go to the doctor, I didn't get tests, and I had no idea what my health status was," he shares in the episode "When My Life Changed," an interview with Sofia Teixeira, with images by Nuno Neves [also responsible for editing and directing] and Rodrigo Mendes. Despite exercising a lot, he was overweight, and the acute and urgent episode confirmed that he had high cholesterol.

Faced with chest pain and vomiting, he decided to give up after ten kilometers of running, but he thought the discomfort would pass and didn't call for help. Fortunately, those around him acted wisely, and some bystanders called the firefighters for help. "It was only when I saw the urgency in the emergency responders' gestures and faces that I realized he was in trouble." Frederico underwent a catheterization [an invasive medical procedure that diagnoses and, in some cases, treats heart and blood vessel problems] that saved him in "45 minutes" at Leiria Hospital. The impact on his life would come later when, suddenly, a man accustomed to sports found himself struggling to climb stairs. He went through what he calls an "identity crisis," which had a "very significant emotional and psychological impact."

After hospitalization, he returned to Lisbon with a referral for cardiac rehabilitation, but he waited, and it wasn't until four months later that he was called. "I had the heart attack on September 17, 2023, and I only started rehabilitation in January 2024." During this period, he was medicated, but he felt "very helpless, not knowing what to do." Delays in cardiac rehabilitation are one of the challenges some survivors face. And we continue to face access constraints.

If you've made it this far, stay tuned. I'd also like to add a reminder that recurs year-round, but takes on new meaning during the summer, a time when blood reserves in Portuguese hospitals are low. The Portuguese Institute of Blood (IPST) and Transplantation launched the campaign "Summer is a time to rest, but help can't stop! Give Blood! This holiday season, be the hero patients need," which includes collection sessions throughout the country until September 15th. On the Dador website, you can see where you can donate blood and find out about regular collection centers.

Whether you're on vacation or at work, our short questionnaire is still waiting for you. Therefore, I invite you to respond once again . We want to understand if you're interested in learning more about your risk factors and if you believe that social media can help you understand them better and raise awareness for a healthier lifestyle. Your answers matter. Participate HERE.