Heart disease is a serious and often fatal condition that affects many people of different ages, genders, and demographics. It is highly common in America, and it is the leading cause of death in all adults. Raising awareness about heart disease and educating Americans on the topic can potentially save thousands of lives each year. February is heart health month in America. Observing a healthy heart month in February helps to raise awareness and educate adults regarding potential risk factors and warning signs.
American Heart Month Facts
A special day during heart month is the first Friday of February, also known as Wear Red Day. Across the nation, people wear red to raise awareness for heart disease, its effects, and the prevention of the disease.
Heart health month has been recognized since 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed February to be heart health month after he suffered from heart complications. During this time,
heart disease was responsible for half of all adult deaths in the USA.
The American Heart Association or AHA also raises awareness specifically for women suffering from heart disease through its “Heart to Heart: Why Losing One Woman Is Too Many” campaign.
Interesting Facts About Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults in the USA and is also one of the leading causes of adult deaths globally. Heart disease comes in many forms such as coronary heart disease (known as a heart attack), atherosclerosis (mainly affecting the extremities), cardiomyopathy, and cerebrovascular disease (also known as a stroke).
According to the CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone dies every 36 seconds from a heart-related complication and 40 seconds from a heart attack. One in five people who experience a damaging heart attack is unaware of it.
Statistically, white males are more likely to be affected than other ethnic and gender groups. It is also the cause of 1 in 4 adult deaths in America.
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Heart?
Diabetes and heart disease may seem completely unrelated. However, this is not the case as a clear link has been established between heart disease and diabetes. Those with diabetes have a higher chance of suffering from a cardiovascular issue. The reason for this is because certain symptoms or characteristics of diabetes are viewed as risk factors for heart disease. These include high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and high cholesterol.
A condition such as high blood pressure causes blood to flow at an increased rate, which can damage the artery walls. Having high blood glucose levels can also damage blood vessels and nerves.
There are also a few other factors that could severely increase the chances of a person suffering diabetes from contracting a heart disease:
- Smoking
While smoking increases the chances of suffering from heart disease, smokers who suffer from diabetes are at an even higher risk for heart disease. This is because both diabetes and smoking cause narrowing of the blood vessels, which may lead to atherosclerosis.
- Obesity
Obesity is known to cause significantly higher levels of cholesterol. It also causes a rise in blood pressure because people suffering from obesity need more blood to supply their body with oxygen. It is often associated with hypertension, diabetes, and insulin resistance. All of these factors are major contributors to developing heart disease.
- Lack of physical activity
A lack of physical activity often goes hand in hand with obesity. Not exercising enough can cause an increase in blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease. People who are generally physically inactive have a 30-50% higher chance of struggling with high blood pressure.
- Family and genetic history
Having a family history of heart disease or diabetes significantly increases the risks of experiencing these health issues. Unfortunately, this is a factor that can not be controlled or changed. However, living a healthy lifestyle can still reduce the risks, even if there is a family history of heart disease.
- High alcohol consumption
There is a link between excessive consumption of alcohol and most factors that increase the risk of heart diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Some studies suggest that a moderate intake of red wine may reduce the risk of heart disease due to the antioxidants present in wine. However, this is not yet proven, and antioxidants can be found in many other food sources such as blueberries, dark chocolate, raspberries, and kale.
How To Prevent Heart Disease and Diabetes?
1.Exercise more
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults take part in 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. Exercise boasts several benefits to exercise when it comes to overall health. These include weight loss, improved lung function, and increased circulation. Because exercise increases circulation, it lowers the heart rate and blood pressure. Aerobic exercise is proven to be the most beneficial when it comes to heart health. Examples of this include brisk walking, jogging, dancing, and swimming.
2. Quit smoking
Quitting smoking has a long list of benefits, and preventing heart disease is one of them. Smoking narrows blood vessels, causing the heart to work harder when pumping blood. Quitting improves cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure and blood glucose levels. It can also make physical activity more bearable as the lungs heal and can improve blood circulation.
3. Regular check-ups
Scheduling regular heart health checks with a doctor can help to identify possible risks or early signs of heart disease. Regularly testing blood glucose and blood pressure can also help eliminate or identify conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, both of which can contribute to heart disease.
4. Healthier diet
Certain foods such as fast food, foods that are high in sugar and saturated fats, and processed foods are known to increase the risks of diabetes and heart disease. A healthier diet paired with exercise can eliminate these risks and may even reverse the effects of type 2 diabetes. A diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and a variety of proteins can improve heart health.
5. Work on managing stress
Chronic stress related to work or daily life plays a tremendous role in the onset of heart disease. Stress and depression are also common side effects of diabetes. Dealing with stress might not be as easy as it sounds, doing so can have a life-changing effect. People can learn to manage stress in many ways like deep breathing exercises, meditation, seeing a therapist, listening to calming music, exercising, and practicing hobbies.
Raising awareness toward heart health can impact people’s everyday choices and can help many people to make necessary, life-saving changes. Heart month highlights the seriousness of heart conditions and how common they are amongst adults in America and around the world. Prevention of heart disease may not always be possible, but reducing the risks by eliminating certain factors has proven to be incredibly effective. The more people who understand what heart disease is and what causes it, the more lives could potentially be saved.
If you are worried about your child experiencing metabolic issues such as insulin resistance, pre diabetes, high cholesterol, overweight or obesity, make sure to call the Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Center of Florida. We have a facility dedicated to treating children with heart conditions and diabetes. Contact us today so we can schedule an appointment for you and your child.