Leading Cause of Deathin
the United States
One person
dies every 30 seconds
from heart disease,
that's over 2,600
people
Every single day!
Cardiovascular
disease (CVD), principally heart disease and stroke, is the Nation's leading
killer for both men and women among all racial and ethnic groups.
Almost 1 million
Americans die of CVD each year, which adds up to 42% of all deaths.
Heart
disease doesn't just kill the elderly -- it is the leading cause of death for
ALL Americans age 35 and older. Heart disease accounts for
over one million deaths each year; in 160,000 of those deaths the individuals
were 35 to 64 years old.
Early
medical detection and treatment is available, but the effectiveness of this in
actually preventing heart attacks is questionable according to a study that was
published in the journal Circulation.
In this study, Dr. Lewis Kuller reviewed the medical records of 326 individuals who had received medical examinations within the six month period before they died from a sudden heart attack. Eighty-six of the 326 examinations were done within the seven day period prior to death from heart attack. Not a single one of the 326 heart attacks had been predicted by the physicians.
In this study, Dr. Lewis Kuller reviewed the medical records of 326 individuals who had received medical examinations within the six month period before they died from a sudden heart attack. Eighty-six of the 326 examinations were done within the seven day period prior to death from heart attack. Not a single one of the 326 heart attacks had been predicted by the physicians.
The
death toll alone is a staggering burden, but it is only part of the picture.
The rest of the picture is filled with individuals who daily struggle with the
complications of CVD. One out of every four Americans has CVD, that converts to
about 57 million Americans. Heart disease and stroke account for almost 6
million hospitalizations each year and cause disability for almost 10 million
Americans age 65 years and older.
Until
fiscal year (FY) 1998, NO Federal Funding had been directed to states to target
CVD.
According
to studies conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease Control where you live
might affect your exposure to factors causing heart disease (i.e. environmental
pollution, daily stress, lifestyle behaviors).
Tobacco Use:
Smokers have twice the risk of heart attack as nonsmokers. One-fifth of the
annual 1,000,000 deaths from CVD are attributable to smoking. Surveillance data
indicate that an estimated 1,000,000 young people become "regular"
smokers each year.
Lack of Physical Activity: People who are sedentary have twice
the risk of heart disease as those who are physically active. Despite these
risks, America remains a predominantly sedentary society. Surveys show that
more than half of American adults do not practice the recommended level of
physical activity, and more than one-fourth are completely sedentary.
Poor Nutrition:
Between 20% and 30% of the nation’s adults (some 58 million people) are obese
and thus have a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and other chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes. Only
27% of women and 19% of men report eating the recommended five servings of
fruits and vegetables each day.
Cardiovascular
Disease (CVD) includes dysfunctional conditions of the heart, arteries, and
veins that supply oxygen to vital life-sustaining areas of the body like the
brain, the heart itself, and other vital organs. If oxygen doesn't arrive the
tissue or organ will die.
High Blood
Pressure (hypertension)
often results from this excess fat or plaque buildup because of the extra
effort it takes to circulate blood. Even though the heart works harder,
blockages still shortchange the needed blood supply to all areas of the body.
The body's amazing survival systems will mask the subtle damage that is
occurring from this extra wear and tear, but not forever. High blood pressure
is called "The Silent Killer" because the first warning sign is an angina
attack or a deadly heart
attack or a stroke.
Kidney
disorders (which leave extra fluids, sodium, and toxins in the body), obesity,
diabetes, birth control pills, pregnancy, smoking, excess alcohol, stress, and
thyroid and adrenal gland problems can also cause and exacerbate a high blood
pressure condition.
Damage
to the heart tissues from CVD or from heart surgery will disrupt the natural
electrical impulses of the heart and result in cardiac
arrhythmia (an
abnormally high or abnormally low heart rate). Individuals often don't realize
the aftermath and side effects that invasive surgical procedures leave. Sudden
fluctuations in heart rate can cause noticeable palpitations, with an
associated faintness, or dizziness, and if severely abnormal could interfere
with blood flow and even initiate a heart attack.
Proper
ranges of cholesterol are also important in the prevention of
heart attack or stroke. Total blood cholesterol above 200 mg/dl, LDL
cholesterol above 130 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dl; and lipoprotein(a)
level greater than 30 mg/dl are indicators of problematic cholesterol.
Cholesterol is not actually a damage mechanism but is more an indicator of
compromised liver function, and increased risk of heart attack.
Infection
of the heart, carditis and endocarditis, is an additional complication that can
occur as a result of a weak immune system, liver problems, heart surgery, or
from an autoimmune disorder like rheumatic fever. Endocarditis is quite common
in persons with compromised immune systems from HIV or AIDS. If not
appropriately handled, permanent heart muscle damage can occur from the
infection.
The
traditional approach is medication and surgery, but several published studies
indicate that a second and even third opinion should be obtained before
proceeding with surgery.
"Angiograms,
bypass surgery, and angioplasty are a big business. Over one million heart
angiograms are performed each year for a total annual cost of over ten billion
dollars. But based upon extensive analysis, it appears that most of this money
is wasted. The use of expensive surgery is physically invasive and traumatic
for the heart patient, and upon evaluation of case histories has been shown to
be five to ten times more deadly than the disease, and in many instances
unnecessary!"
[As
reported in: Graboys, et. al. 1987 Journal of the American Medical Association;
Graboys, et. al. 1992 Journal of the American Medical Association; Coronary
Artery Surgery Study (CASS) 1984 New England Journal of Medicine; CASS study,
Alderman, et. al. 1982 and 1990 Circulation (Journal)].
Many
scientific studies validate the effect diet and supplements can have for the
body to heal damages to the cardiovascular system. Lifestyle changes can also
make a big difference.
Our Personal
Framework for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control will give you this nutrient association
information as well as other helpful lifestyle changes for managing the
disease. We also include the Center for
Disease Control Framework for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control to help you understand on a large scale
what the government is doing.
