During May we celebrated the month of the heart!
The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, through the Cardiovascular Centre of the University of Lisbon, the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Centre of the University of Lisbon, as well as the Cardiovascular Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory, celebrated May with a series of events aimed at all audiences of all ages.
On 6 May we celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Centre of the University of Lisbon.
Celebrating its 5 years of existence, CRECUL results from the partnership involving the Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH), the Faculty of Medicine (FM), the Faculty of Psychology (FP) and the University Stadium of the University of Lisbon (EULisboa), thus making the Centre widely recognized as a community initiative in the field of Health.
According to Professor Fausto J. Pinto, CRECUL is “a pioneering project and a true academic programme” and currently has around 55 participants and 129 since the beginning of the project.
This online event was attended by Professors Ana Abreu, Clinical Director of CRECUL, who welcomed everyone present, Helena Santa-Clara, Director of the CRECUL Exercise Programme, Dr João Roquette, Director of the University Stadium, Professor Luís Sardinha, Director of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Professor Fausto Pinto, Director of the Faculty of Medicine and the Rector of the University of Lisbon, António da Cruz Serra.
Simultaneously, throughout the month, the FMUL Active Breaks were promoted, with the objective of spreading health and well-being, through 15-minute sessions, with stretching exercises. The initiative was organized by the CCUL Cardiovascular Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory.
On the 20 May we were able to attend the webinar “Covid-19 and cardiovascular disease”, organized by CCUL. “Cardiovascular disease could be a consequence of the infection with Sars-Cov-2, which is the virus that causes Covid-19” but “people with cardiovascular disease are more susceptible to this infection”, referred Professor Fausto Pinto at the opening session of this webinar. The panel was composed by Dr Pedro Alves da Silva, cardiology intern at the Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, who identified, in his presentation, 4 messages that highlight the covid-19 infection in cardiac patients. Dr Maria Serrano, an intensive care physician also at the CHLN, gave a presentation on what has been happening in intensive care, in what is one of the largest hospitals in the country, in the last year.
Dr Luiz Gamito, a psychiatrist, began his presentation by mentioning Hans Selye and his work, “General Adaptation Syndrome”, saying that the teaching he left us is that “the system reacts by trying to adapt to any aggression” regardless of its nature.
Professors Ana Abreu and Rita Pinto also attended the webinar.
“Eyes that cannot see, a heart that does not feel?” was the motto of conversations that marked 25 May with another cycle of online conversations resulting from the collaboration between Ciência Viva and the Cardiovascular Centre of the University of Lisbon (CCUL). According to Rosalia Vargas, President of Ciência Viva, “we must pay more attention to our heart”. This event was attended by Professor Fausto Pinto, Director of CCUL and FMUL, who recalled that cardiovascular diseases represent the main cause of death and morbidity on a global scale, including Portugal. Fausto Pinto also stressed that there is much to be done in the field of preventing cardiovascular diseases, with 80% of these types of diseases being preventable. In this cycle of conversations, moderated by TVI journalist Catarina Canelas, participated Rita Pinto and Ana Abreu (CRECUL and CCUL), Joana Sousa (FMUL Nutrition Laboratory and the Nutritionists Association), Paula Rosa (Portuguese Society of Pulmonology) and Manuela Abreu (Cardiovascular Centre of the University of Lisbon).
As a physiologist, Rita Pinto warned about the arrival of people in their 30s at CRECUL and demonstrated some exercises that enable activating the body. On the other hand, Professor Ana Abreu mentioned that there are cases of heart attack in people just over 20 years old.
Because the heart is also nourished, in the field of healthy eating we had the presence of Professor Joana Sousa.
The harmful effects of stress on our hearts was also discussed at this event by Manuela Abreu, professor at the University Clinic of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology.
To close the month of the heart with the cherry on top of the cake, on the 28th, the European Accreditation of the CHULN/ FMUL and CRECUL Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programme was celebrated.
This ceremony took place in the Auditorium of the Portuguese Blood and Transplantation Institute, in Pulido Valente Hospital.
The opening session was the responsibility of Professor Fausto Pinto, Director of FMUL and Director of the Heart and Vessels Department at CHULN, Dr Luís Pinheiro, Clinical Director of CHULN and Dr Daniel Ferro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CHULN.
Professor Ana Abreu took the floor and explained the evolution of the cardiovascular rehabilitation programme until obtaining European accreditation.
We got to know the team that makes up the cardiovascular rehabilitation programme, from cardiology to mental health, including the nursing team, dietitians and physiotherapists. We also listened to one of the patients who participate in this programme, Dr Luiz Gamito.
Rita Pinto, exercise physiologist, spoke to those present about the new hybrid CVR programme, with the possibility of participating online from home and in person.
The eBook “CHULN/FMUL/CRECUL CVR Programme” was also launched.
The cardiovascular rehabilitation programme is to be congratulated for its excellent work!
Cristina Bastos
Editorial Team
