Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, claims approximately 941,652 lives annually. According to a recent report, this translates to roughly one person dying every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease.
Physician Keith Churchwell, president of the American Heart Association, emphasizes that these statistics are alarming and should concern everyone. He highlights the need for increased awareness and prevention measures due to rising heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
Research indicates that a poor diet, lack of sleep, exercise, stress management, and mental health contribute significantly to cardiovascular disease. Environmental factors such as education, income, and neighborhood availability also impact lifestyle choices.
Minority groups face greater barriers to healthy heart choices, with Black individuals having the highest age-adjusted obesity-related cardiovascular mortality. However, there is encouraging news – smoking rates have declined from 42% in the 1960s to 11.5%, and cholesterol levels have decreased as well.
Experts urge tailored interventions for high-risk populations to address disparities in risk and outcomes. Regular screening tests starting at age 20 are recommended to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
While progress has been made against cardiovascular disease, more work remains to be done, according to Harvard University cardiologist Dhruv Kazi.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/leading-cause-of-death-in-us-claims-a-life-every-34-seconds