Heart Disease Prevention

For more than 70 years, heart disease has been the No. 1 killer in the United States. It can cause coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries), heart attack or stroke. And you can develop it even if you don’t have a family history.

As of 2018, 30.3 million American adults had some form of heart disease. But, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. To avoid one of these life-changing events, it’s important to understand how frequently they can occur and to be proactive about protecting yourself.

Facts About Heart Disease

In the United States, one person dies from heart disease every 33 seconds. It led to approximately 695,000 deaths in 2021, including more than 375,000 specifically due to coronary artery disease.

Heart attacks and strokes are also common. One of each of these events occurs every 40 seconds. Nearly 805,000 Americans have a heart attack every year, and many (one in five) don’t know it. Additionally, more than 795,000 people have a stroke every year, accounting for one in six heart disease deaths.

Heart disease is also a problem for Kentucky. The state has the nation’s 8th-highest heart disease rate. It contributes to more than 10,300 deaths statewide, including approximately 2,300 from stroke.

Tricky Factors to Heart Disease

As common as heart disease is, it’s still possible to prevent it or reduce its impact, says Dr. Damodhar Suresh, a cardiologist at the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth.

However, he says, two factors can make heart disease tricky — family history and diabetes.

“If heart disease runs in your family, you can’t completely prevent it. But you can prolong the timeline,” he says. “If your dad or mom had heart disease, you’ll have heart disease. It doesn’t matter if you’re a star athlete. But still, you can lessen your odds.”

Heart disease can also appear soon after you develop diabetes. So, controlling your blood sugar and treating pre-diabetes is critical to potentially preventing heart disease, he says.

Steps to Prevent Heart Disease

Dr. Suresh says the best way to limit your risk for heart disease or reduce its impact on your body is by following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8. These eight steps include:

1. Eating better: Add more lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and olive or canola oil to your diet.
2. Being more active: Strive to boost the amount of exercise you get each week. At a minimum, try to achieve 2.5 hours of moderate exercise every week. Encourage your kids to get 60 minutes of active play every day.
3. Quitting tobacco: Nicotine in cigarettes or vaping devices narrows your blood vessels, forcing your heart to work harder than it should. Avoid secondhand smoke because it can have the same effect.
4. Getting more sleep: As an adult, you need 7-9 hours of nightly sleep. Getting enough rest can boost brain function and reduce your chronic disease risk. Setting good sleep hygiene habits can help you get the sleep you need.
5. Managing weight: Talk with your doctor about a healthy weight for your height. Generally, the body mass index (BMI) is a good measuring tool. For most people, a BMI of 25 is best.
6. Controlling cholesterol: High levels of LDL cholesterol cause plaque in your arteries (atherosclerosis). Over time, you can develop coronary artery disease.
7. Managing blood sugar: High blood sugar levels can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. Underlying heart disease can appear soon after you develop diabetes.
8. Managing blood pressure: Controlling your blood pressure can keep your heart healthier long-term. Aim to keep your blood pressure below 120/80 mm/Hg.

For many people, it is possible to avoid heart disease, Dr. Suresh says. Following these lifestyle efforts is a great way to improve your overall health and well-being.

Learn more about heart disease prevention programs at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.