Written by: Vidula Alla
Edited by: Angela X and Aleeza H
Overview
Cardiovascular Disease, or Heart Disease, accounts for nearly 660,000 deaths each year within the U.S. Thus, making it the leading cause of death within the nation. In 2018 alone, 3 million adults died due to cardiovascular related diseases. Of the various types of Cardiovascular Diseases, the most common type seen amongst the public are heart attacks. To put this statistic into perspective, every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. suffers from a heart attack. Despite heart attacks being the most common type of cardiovascular disease, anything spanning from a stroke, cardiac arrest, to arrhythmia all fall under the category of a Cardiovascular Disease. The demographic that tends to see the most cases of Cardiovascular Disease are males over the age of 50. Women also face a heightened risk of Cardiovascular Disease as they age as well. It is quite evident that Cardiovascular Disease is immensely widespread amongst older populations, serving as a major health threat against the vast majority.
Myth vs. Truth
It is heavily been thought that only those who are older are at risk of getting Cardiovascular Disease, while younger individuals don’t suffer from heart-related diseases. It is transparent that older populations do in fact see more cases of cardiovascular complications. Regardless, it is not only the older population who fall victim to these issues. While it may be less prevalent, approximately 6,300 kids under 18 years old experience cardiac arrests each year in the U.S. Furthermore, studies have shown that many of these types of cases are sports induced. Nearly 56% of sudden deaths in young athletes are due to Cardiovascular Disease. Additionally, it’s important to note that at birth a baby can be diagnosed with a Cardiovascular Disease. For example, Congenital Heart Disease is a Cardiovascular Disease that children are specifically born with. Congenital Heart Disease is an umbrella term for various types of complications or defects found within or relating to the heart at birth. About 40,000 babies are born with Congenital Heart Disease each year within the U.S. Hence, it is clear that young individuals are heavily impacted by a plethora of Cardiovascular Diseases.
What can those young and old do to prevent Cardiovascular Disease?
The lifestyle one follows plays a critical role in whether one has to face heart-related problems down the road. Many factors that can impact your overall health, especially when it comes to heart health. Some factors to be aware of are what you eat; you should try avoiding foods with high sodium contents and trans fats. Additionally, smoking can take a very negative toll on your body by damaging blood vessels, thus resulting in a heightened risk of Cardiovascular Disease. Furthermore, something that is often overlooked is consistently staying active, whether it is through the means of a sport, or simply taking a walk around the neighborhood. By simply exercising and keeping your body in shape, you can also keep your heart in shape. By looking out for your own health and practices, you can reduce the risk of Cardiovascular Disease.
Works Cited
“A List of Cardiovascular Diseases: The 5 Most Common.” Dignity Health, www.dignityhealth.org/articles/a-list-of-cardiovascular-diseases-the-5-most-common.
“FastStats - Leading Causes of Death.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Mar. 2021, www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm.
“Heart Disease: It Can Happen at Any Age.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Jan. 2021, www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/any_age.htm.
Story, Colleen M. “Heart Disease in Children.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 Aug. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/in-children.
Thomas, Jen. “Facts and Statistics on Heart Disease.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 16 July 2020, www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/statistics#Who-is-at-risk?