Heart Disease Rates In America At All Time High, Why?

February 13, 2019
Heart disease rates in America are at all time high. Not only that, but so too are high blood pressure and strokes. Why is this so?

 

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there are several reasons:

  • Smoking
  • lack of exercise
  • poor diets
  • heavy alcohol consumption
  • high blood pressure

 

heart disease

 

There are several additional negative statistics; for example, in 2016 only 48% of U.S. adults had some form of cardiovascular disease.

The average American has a 90 percent l will also reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke. Easy to promote but very hard to implement as smoking is very addictive.

According to the AHA, the key is not developing high blood pressure. Controlling one’s blood pressure to normal levels will also reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke.
Cutting smoking is another key issue. It’s easy to advise but quite difficult to implement as tobacco is addictive.
Poor diets lead to obesity and this obesity sets off a chain reaction that affects the heart and the circulatory system.

 

Heart Disease: Alarming Statistics

 Obesity statistics remain stubbornly high. Just under 40 percent of United States adults are obese, and 8 percent are severely obese. Meanwhile, over 18 percent of children and teenagers are obese.

The cost in lives is tragic. These diseases have become chronic and it takes a toll on quality of live and productivity. In addition, the strain and cost to the health care system runs in the hundreds of billion dollars each year.

 

In 2016, the cost of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. was about $500 billion. That includes costs for treatment of:

  • Heart conditions
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • High blood pressure

 

Treatment of these diseases accounts for $1 of every $5 spent on health care in the United States.

Heart Disease: Lifestyle Changes Are Necessary

The bottom line is that these statistics will get worse if people don’t make serious life changes. These changes will include:

  • healthy diets
  • exercise
  • stop smoking
  • consume alcohol in moderation
  • get 6-8 hours of sleep every night.
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