PUBLIC AWARENESS TOWARD HEART DISEASE AND ITS RISK FACTORS AMONG GENERAL POPULATION, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Heart diseases especially coronary artery diseases is the number one causes death worldwide according to World Health Organization (WHO). Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia reported that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the cause of more than 40% of the non-communicable diseases in 2010. Primary preventive measures should be taken from early life to reduce cardiovascular diseases by modifying risk factors, such as healthy diet, avoidance smoking and regular exercise. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study based on questionnaires that distributed randomly among general population, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted during the period from January to February 2019. The total sample obtained was 450 Saudis participants. A self-administered questionnaire about heart disease risk factors awareness was filled by participants. Results: Majority of included participants were aged 20-30 years old (36.7%) then whom aged 31-40 years old (28.4%). Most of the participants agreed being overweight increases a person's risk for heart disease (90%), smoking is a risk factor for heart disease (83.1%), high cholesterol is a risk factor for developing heart disease (73.3%), and high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease (66.2%). Conclusion: More campaigns are needed that focus on diet, exercise and the risk factors of heart disease. Lifestyle changes such as modifying dietary habits can benefit those who are at risk of developing heart disease.