Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US – and new research suggests that more than half the country will have some form of the disease in the near future.
The data, recently published in the journal Circulation, is part of two new presidential statements from the American Heart Association. Based on data calculations, researchers found that more than six in 10 American adults will have some type of cardiovascular disease in the next 30 years. High blood pressure – which is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke – is the most likely condition people will develop, according to estimates.
Although high blood pressure is common in people aged 80 and over, estimates show that the number of people with hypertension will be highest – and will continue to rise – in younger and middle-aged adults aged 20 to 64. deity.
At the same time, the number of people suffering strokes will almost double, from 10 million to almost 20 million adults.
“These are truly impressive numbers,” study co-author Dr.Dhruv Kaziassociate director of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology and director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, told Yahoo Life.
But what’s behind this increase and, more importantly, what can you do to lower your risk? Cardiologists analyze this.
Why are cases of cardiovascular disease increasing?
There are several reasons why these cases are increasing. One is that obesity rates are increasing. Over the next 30 years, obesity rates are expected to increase from 43.1% to 60.6% and affect more than 180 million Americans. At the same time, diabetes rates will increase from 16.3% to 26.8% and affect 80 million people. Both obesity and diabetes are important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, highlights Kazi.
“There are also demographic changes in the US,” Dr., interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, tells Yahoo Life. The populations of Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and black Americans are growing and “these groups appear to have higher rates of obesity and hypertension,” he says. Kazi agrees. “As we become more diverse – which is great – one of the consequences we will have to deal with is a greater risk and an increase in cardiovascular disease,” he says.
At the same time, the national population in general is aging. Millennials just recently surpassed baby boomers are the largest generation in the U.S., but baby boomers still make up a significant part of the country — and are now older adults, says Kazi. “As people age, cardiovascular disease risk factors and conditions tend to increase,” he says.
But doctors say young people are also fueling this growth. “We are seeing an overall increase in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and disease in younger individuals, including increases in obesity and diabetes in adolescence,” says Kazi. “They will live with these risk factors and, in some cases, cardiovascular disease for the rest of their lives.”
Chen agrees that behavioral factors in young people are a significant factor. “A lot of this is driven by younger patients not having a good lifestyle,” he says.
So what can people do to reduce their risk?
Kazi says the data should serve as a warning. “I cannot overstate how surprising these numbers are,” he says. “This is an opportunity for all of us to say, ‘What can I do to keep myself and my community healthier?’”
He recommends thinking about your own personal risk and whether certain factors like tobacco use, uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrolled blood pressure could be fueling it. “If these factors apply to you, consult a primary care doctor to take appropriate precautions,” he says.
However, cardiologists say everyone can benefit by following the American Heart Association’s recommendations. Essentials of Life 8. These factors are important for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, according to the AHA. They include:
-
Eat well. This means following a diet that includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olives and canola.
-
Exercise most days of the week. The AHA recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise per week.
-
Avoid tobacco products. Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. (Want to quit? Here’s how to increase your chances of quitting for good.)
-
Getting healthy sleep. Most adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
-
Trying to control your weight. An ideal body mass index (BMI) is less than 25, but less than 18.5 is considered underweight. (Of note: BMI is considered a imperfect health measure. If you’re concerned about your weight, it’s best to talk to a doctor to learn more.)
-
Controlling your cholesterol. The goal is lower non-HDL levelsor “bad”, cholesterol.
-
Managing your blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Monitoring hemoglobin A1C can determine whether people with diabetes or prediabetes have good blood sugar control.
-
Managing your blood pressure. Levels less than 120/80 mm Hg are ideal. High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure of 130 mm to 139 mm Hg (the top number) or diastolic pressure of 80 mm to 89 mm Hg (the bottom number).
Chen encourages people to be proactive about their cardiovascular health. “Despite decades of improvements in cardiovascular therapy and public health campaigns, we are still trying to bend this cardiovascular disease growth curve,” he says.
