By the time you finish reading this paragraph, one person would have died due to heart related disease in America. Yes you read that right! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “One person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.”
Why is it rising?
High blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, physical inactivity, smoking etc. are the main factors for heart disease. A person's chance of having heart disease can also be increased by a number of other medical conditions and lifestyle decisions, including:
Diabetes
Compared to people without diabetes, those who have been diagnosed with diabetes have a twofold increased chance of developing heart disease or a stroke. The degeneration of heart blood vessels and the obstruction of arteries delivering blood to the brain results in strokes. This is caused by elevated blood sugar levels linked to diabetes. More than two-thirds of diabetes patients also have high blood pressure, which is associated with diabetes and is more common. Additionally, diabetes might raise triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels.
Being obese or overweight/ physical inactivity
Overweight and obese people have a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke, as well as the risk factors that go along with them, including high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and type 2 diabetes. Nearly 74% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. Even when there are no other risk factors for heart disease, physical inactivity can still contribute to the development of the condition.
High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol
The main reason why high blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease and stroke is because it has a negative effect on the lining of the arteries, making them more vulnerable to plaque development. As a result, the arteries supplying blood to the heart and brain start to narrow. Nearly 116 million adults in the US, or nearly half the population, have high blood pressure. By adopting a nutritious diet low in salt, participating in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, and following recommended medication regimens when necessary, people have the ability to improve their blood pressure and cholesterol profiles.