Institut für Allgemeinmedizin

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. However, up to 80% of these diseases, as well as strokes and type 2 diabetes, could be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes. Long-term health promotion requires targeted measures to strengthen individual health literacy, empowering the population to maintain their health independently.

Vulnerable individuals, such as people with a migrant background and low socioeconomic status, are particularly at risk and have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Supporting these individuals is crucial to reducing health inequalities. Digital interventions can present scientific findings in an accessible way and reach a broad population.

Prevention offers far-reaching and comprehensive benefits for individuals and society. These include maintaining health as well as preventing, delaying, or detecting diseases early. Society benefits economically through reduced healthcare costs.

Nevertheless, effective prevention remains a challenge in medicine and requires further development. Reasons for this include limited public acceptance of preventive measures, particularly primary prevention, which is often perceived as less urgent. Additionally, due to economic incentive systems, stakeholders in the healthcare system frequently prioritize the treatment of existing diseases over preventive measures.

The free, multilingual prevention app “tala-med Cardio,” developed by scientists, has been addressing the above-mentioned issues since 2023 with the modules “Exercise, Nutrition, and Smoking Cessation,” providing both information and practical guidance. The goal is to reduce existing barriers—such as language and educational level—that have previously hindered health promotion efforts. The easy-to-understand content helps people independently pursue a healthier lifestyle.

The goal of the project is to develop a digital tool for personalized prevention with a focus on cardiovascular risk. It will consist of three modules on the topics of smoking, exercise, and nutrition.
 

The following video is designed to motivate the target audience to use the app and encourage a behavioral change that contributes to a healthier lifestyle. The free tala-med Cardio app is available in the App Store / Google Play Store and can be downloaded directly. Enjoy!