THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF STUDENTS OF THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION

The most effective and the cheapest method of cardiovascular disease prevention is changing lifestyle. Cardiovascular disease is caused by many factors. They include: a diet rich in saturated fat and cholesterol, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity. The aim of the research was to assess the level of knowledge of the students of the Medical University about cardiovascular disease prevention. Material and methods: Research was conducted on 200 students of the Medical University of Lublin, residing in the Student House No. 4- in Lublin. Self-authorship questionnaires were used to assess the level of knowledge of the students of the Medical University about cardiovascular disease prevention. Research results: The students of the Medical University have broad knowledge about the influence of physical activity, diet, cigarettes and alcohol use on cardiovascular disease prevention. 90.5 percent of the respondents know that smoking greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. More than a half of the students are aware that excessive alcohol consumption has a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. 38.67 percent of the respondents recognize moderate alcohol consumption as protective for cardiovascular disease. The remaining 3.13 percent of the students have no knowledge about this issue. Almost half of the respondents [45 percent) is aware that psychosocial factors have an impact on the cardiovascular system. 86.5 percent of the students believe that there is a correlation between cardiovascular disease and factors such as: low socioeconomic status, social isolation, stress, negative emotions, depression. The remaining 13.5 percent of the respondents have incomplete knowledge about this issue. Almost the half of the respondents knows that type A personality increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas the remaining 52 percent of the students have incomplete knowledge about this issue.