In solidarity with the whole of Europe and to draw public attention to the debilitating and life-long disease of heart failure (HF) - Vilnius city municipality red - the color of the heart - will illuminate one of the most beautiful bridges in the city - the King Mindaugas Bridge, Kaunas will solemnly paint the City Hall red. This campaign symbolizes the hope for the future and a fulfilling life for all heart disease patients.
According to Professor Jelena Čelutkienė, who has been the head of the Heart Failure Working Group of the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology for several years, who has won international prizes for educational work in spreading knowledge about heart failure prevention and early detection of the disease in society, I am happy that this year, by joining forces, educational events will be organized events, which will draw even more attention to the problem of heart failure in Lithuania and to those suffering from this disease.
Heart failure is a disease in which the heart is unable to fill and pump blood properly. Half of patients die within the first five years of diagnosis, and a quarter survive ten years. It is an extremely debilitating illness, patients suffer from shortness of breath, rapid fatigue and weakness, dry cough at night, loss of appetite, swelling of the legs, etc., even after light physical exertion or at rest.
"Over 100 people are suffering from this disease in Lithuania. In order to present this disease to the public and draw attention to it, temporary heart clinics will be established in the central squares of the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas: citizens will be able to consult with cardiologists and heart failure specialists in specially equipped tents. We will explain to people what heart failure is, how to recognize its symptoms and seek help in time," says one of the initiators of the campaign, the president of the Lithuanian Heart Association, prof. Raimonds Kubilius.
Heart failure is a big problem throughout the European Union, where about 15 million people are diagnosed with this disease. people. In order to attract public attention, in order to protect healthy people from cardiovascular diseases and to slow down the progression of heart failure in those already suffering from it, Heart Failure Awareness Day is celebrated in Europe every year on the first weekend of May. This year, it is initiated in Lithuania by the Lithuanian Society of Cardiology, the Lithuanian Heart Association and the Association of Heart Failure Patients.
Events in Vilnius:
May 3 20 p.m. - Lighting of the King Mindaugas Bridge.
May 4 from 11 a.m. until 15 p.m. In Vincos Kudirka Square, in front of the Government House of the Republic of Lithuania, there will be a cardiology clinic, where anyone who wishes will be able to check their health and consult about heart failure.
