Heart Health – News & Events

Health and Well-Being Matter is the monthly blog of the director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Heart disease can affect anyone. The persistent myth that it is primarily a “male disease” is simply not true. Actually, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Yet only about half of women recognize it. Heart disease accounts for about 1 in 5 deaths among women each year compared to 1 in 4 deaths in men. About 1 in 16 women aged 20 and over have coronary heart diseasethe most common type of heart disease.

About half of all Americans have at least 1 of the 3 predominant risk factors for heart diseasesuch as high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or current smoking. In addition, several other increasingly common factors increase the risk of heart disease. These include diabetes, being overweight or obese, unhealthy diet, less active physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

In addition to these very common risk factors, there are other important factors female-specific heart disease risk factors. Women who have had preeclampsia (a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy) are at increased risk of coronary heart disease. Women who have gone through menopause are also more likely to have heart disease (due to hormonal changes). Women who have experienced early menopause are more likely than those who have not developed heart disease. This is true whether menopause occurred naturally or for medical reasons. And although heart disease can occur at any stage of life, women usually experience the onset of symptoms later than men.

Women – and men – can reduce their risk of developing heart disease by following several recommendations for preventive measures. The most important thing is that everyone is aware of their arterial pressure And self-monitor regularly to maintain this awareness. High blood pressure often occurs without symptoms, and it is believed that about half of all American adults have high blood pressure. But many are unaware that they have it. If left unchecked, high blood pressure can increase the risk not only of heart attack, but also of stroke, vascular dementia, kidney disease and eye problems. People with high blood pressure are also more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19.

Women and men may also wish to develop a heart health plan with their health care provider. During their routine checkup, adults should discuss whether they should be tested for conditions that increase the risk of heart disease – such as diabetes or raised blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. When diabetes is not well managed, it increases the risk of heart disease. And high LDL cholesterol levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries which can cause heart disease or strokes. Additionally, women with a history of preeclampsia should tell their health care providers and take extra precautions to regularly monitor their blood pressure and try to reduce any risk factors for heart disease.

In everyday life, there are several steps people can take to immediately reduce their risk of heart disease. Those who smoke should Stop. Those who don’t smoke shouldn’t start. Similarly, limiting the consumption of alcohol, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, may benefit heart health. Eliminate excessive consumption of alcohol is particularly beneficial.

Being overweight or suffering from obesity and a diet high in salt (sodium) increases the risk of high blood pressure and the overall risk of heart disease. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating healthy foods regularly should be part of everyone’s heart health plan.

As I often write (most likely in every blog post), doing healthy food choices and having adequate and regular physical activity is essential for the maintenance of health and well-being, for both mind and body. Moving more and making sure you get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week (anything that makes your heart beat faster counts) has benefits far beyond heart health. It can improve mood, improve concentration, improve sleep, and even help reduce stress, another risk factor for heart disease. As part of regular physical activity, it is also important to include muscle-strengthening activities. The recommendation in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans is to do activities that work the muscles of the body harder than usual at least 2 days a week.

Our office offers a number of helpful resources for clinical providers and public health professionals looking to better prevent heart disease in the people they serve. Specifically, Healthy people 2030 has established several key goals related to heart disease and stroke and offers data and a number of evidence-based resources to aid in health promotion efforts. THE Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Physical Activity Guidelines are also essential references for those who advise on nutrition and physical activity. Move Your Way® provides ready-to-use communication materials to help people incorporate more physical activity into their daily routines. Consumers may wish to explore MyHealthfindera consumer-focused tool that provides plain language health content, including heart health recommendations. We also recently partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to raise awareness about the impact of heart disease on women. I encourage you to visit the NHLBI website and integrate the tools and resources you find there into your own campaigns.

As with all health promotion and disease prevention strategies, heart disease risk reduction does not just happen between individuals and their healthcare providers. The conditions in the environments where people go about their daily lives are key to mitigating risk. These social determinants of health play the predominant role in the opportunity to lead a healthier life. It is not enough to simply promote healthy choices, such as encouraging reduced salt intake or increased physical activity. Any public health strategy to improve heart health must include collaboration across sectors to ensure healthy environments that support healthy living. This includes improving equitable access to affordable, nutritious food and improving physical spaces to help people be more active.

February is American Heart Month. As the month draws to a close, I urge you to help raise awareness of heart disease, risk factors, and prevention and health promotion strategies – among those you serve, your colleagues, friends and relatives. Carry this message throughout the year. Raising awareness is critical if the advice available and our best efforts are to make real progress in preventing heart disease.

Health to you,
Paul

Paul Reed, MD
Rear Admiral, United States Public Health Service
Deputy Under Secretary for Health
Director, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

At the security office — At the service of health