Heart Month Update: The State of Heart Health in America

These days, there’s good news about heart health in America. The death rate from heart disease is declining, with the latest data showing a 2.5 percent annual decrease in the number of cardiac-related deaths per 1,000 Americans, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

“When it comes to coronary artery disease, many people are doing better,” observes Chad Rammohan, M.D., a cardiologist with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), formerly known as Camino Medical Group. “This is mainly due to lifestyle changes, medical therapy and advances in cardiac procedures.”

At the same time, other news is not so good: “Cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and risk factor control remains a challenge for many,” reports the Heart Association’s Update. “While cardiovascular disease deaths appear to be decreasing, the prevalence of many related risk factors is holding steady or increasing.”

To control your risk of heart disease, remember:

• Don’t smoke. Smoking “raises the risk of coronary heart disease death two to three times,” says the AHA.
  
• Maintain your body weight in a healthy range. If you don’t know your ideal weight, talk to your doctor.
  
• Limit your intake of saturated fat and simple carbohydrates. Saturated fat should comprise less than 7 percent of the calories you eat each day. Minimize the amount of simple carbohydrates (such as table sugar, soft drinks or cake) you eat. Consume complex carbohydrates (such as vegetables, whole grains or beans) to get vitamins, minerals and fiber.
  
• Be aware of your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. A cholesterol level of 200 mg. or below is best. A healthy blood pressure is below 120 systolic and below 80 diastolic.
  

  For more information about heart health, visit our Cardiology Web site.