The issue of the circulatory system disorders pose a problem for the health-care system, the national authorities and the society. Prevention and early detection of cardiovascular disorders is a challenge faced by the 21st-century medicine. Heart failure (HF) has been singled out as epidemic, spreading in Europe, and in North and South America. In Europe, this condition affects as many as 15 million people. The prevalence of HF is age-related, and most instances occur in patients over the age of 60. A lot depends on the level of the society’s awareness on healthy lifestyle. Poor diet, smoking, lack or inadequate physical activity, and socio-economic factors, such as, economic difficulties, change in the living conditions, significantly affect human health. Both these factors and a genetic predisposition influence the prevalence and the number of deaths caused by circulatory-system related diseases. Health education, preventive actions and early diagnosis can avert the development of unfavorable social behavior patterns which can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases incidence.

Lipid profile disturbance is one of the main, modifiable risk factors as for a development and progression of the cardiovascular system disorders (cardiovascular disease – CVD). Over 80% of patients with diagnosed CVD, cannot achieve the target level of the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol by recommended and available pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle modification. Monacolin K, as an effective dietary supplement, deserves special attention. Moreover, since it is a natural statin, it may be used as the hypolipidemic preparation. The extract from red yeast rice including monacolin K can be a valuable assistance to ongoing treatment in patients with lipid disorder, and with previous CVD. Scientific findings are supported by EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority), and specifically, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies stated that red yeast rice constituent monacolin K helps maintain a normal level of cholesterol in the blood, and this claim has been confirmed by the European Society of Cardiology.

According to WHO, over a half of deaths in the world is a result of heart diseases. Furthermore, almost 80% instances of this disease could have been prevented, had correct prophylactic measures been introduced. What does it involve? It involves applying several simple golden rules concerning the healthy lifestyle, including first of all, a balanced healthy diet and the appropriate use of dietary supplements.