Madam, – In an Editorial (December 2nd), it was stated that the most common cause of death in Ireland is cancer, whereas the CSO statistics confirm it is cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes events such as heart attack and stroke, is responsible for 35 per cent of all deaths in the Republic, claiming nearly 10,000 lives every year. Although largely preventable through lifestyle and treatment, there is hardly a family in the country that has not been affected directly or indirectly from this killer disease.
Over the past decade we have seen a downward trend in mortality from CVD, but as we face rising levels of obesity, high smoking levels in young people and see strokes and heart attacks occurring in younger age groups, this trend could be reversed. The work of the Irish Heart Foundation in prevention, research, support and resuscitation has become increasingly vital to help public learn to prevent and live with this often silent killer. – Yours, etc,