Overview

• German heart organizations spotlight high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, and smoking as the top modifiable risks, with some campaigns also flagging physical inactivity.
• A large study reported today shows women without these risks at age 50 live on average 14.5 years longer than peers with all five, while men gain 11.8 years.
• Many conditions remain silent and underdiagnosed; for hypertension, one third are well controlled, one third undertreated, and one third unaware, according to cardiologist Hannes Alber.
• Access to prevention expands through routine checkups covered from age 35 every three years and pharmacy services that include annual blood pressure monitoring and counseling on diabetes risk, smoking cessation, and medication use.
• New guidance underscores the role of mental health in cardiovascular disease, signaling a broader shift toward psychocardiology in prevention and care.