Why the study?
Behavioral factors and mental health conditions are modifiable CVD risk factors and key targets for prevention, warranting strategies to effectively address them and promote positive well-being in Greece.
Design
Position paper
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Incorporate lifestyle and mental well-being into CVD prevention; reinforces need for coordinated policy initiatives in Greece.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has a multifactorial origin, involving a range of genetic and environmental factors that have been extensively studied over recent decades. Behavioral aspects, namely dietary habits, physical activity, sleep patterns, smoking behavior, and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress-related disorders, are modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors. Therefore, they represent key targets for CVD prevention and health promotion. The aim of this position is to highlight the importance of behavioral factors and positive well-being in the preventive CVD interventions and to propose strategies for effectively addressing these factors within the context of Greece. It reflects the views of the current board of the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society Working Group (WG) on Lifestyle, Psychosocial Factors, and Atherosclerosis. Lifestyle and well-being should be a high priority for healthcare policy-makers in Greece; it requires coordinated action among multiple stakeholders, including scientific and healthcare professional societies, and the implementation of interventions to improve guideline adherence, such as community health literacy initiatives and financial incentives linked to the food market or insurance systems. The role of this WG is to actively contribute to this important task.
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Lionis et al. (2025) studied this question. Lifestyle behaviors and mental well-being are critical modifiable targets for cardiovascular disease prevention requiring coordinated policy actions and community health initiatives in Greece.
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