You may be surprised to learn that in the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. Primarily caused by consuming excess amounts of refined sugar and low-quality fats – as well as not leading an active lifestyle, the condition is responsible for approximately 610,000 deaths each year.
Luckily, the public seems to be learning that optimal dietary and lifestyle choices can help prevent heart disease and related issues, and this was recently affirmed in a new report.
The research, which was published in the journal JAMA Cardiology, deducted that the prevalence of heart disease has reduced by an astonishing 70% since the turn of the 21st century.
Dr. Stephen Sidney of Kaiser Permanente North California, lead researcher, and his team discovered the good news when they reviewed recent national trends in death rates. They looked at the prevalence of deaths caused by cancer, heart disease, and stroke from January 2000 to December 2011, and January 2011 to December 2014. What they found is hope-inducing!
Medical Daily reports:
“There was […] a decline in cardiovascular disease and stroke mortality. However, after 2011, the rate of decline for these cardiovascular conditions decelerated substantially, while cancer mortality remained stable. For example, between 2000 and 2011, cardiovascular disease, heart disease and stroke saw a 3.79, 3.69 and 4.53 percent rate of decline. The rates of decline for 2011 to 2014 were 0.65, 0.76, and 0.37 percent. Meanwhile, the rate of decline for cancer mortality was 1.49 percent from 2000 to 2011, and 1.55 percent from 2011 to 2014.”
The scientists believe that if the cardiovascular mortality rates between 2000 and 2011 persisted, cancer would have overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S.
A few factors have been attributed with the decline of heart disease-related deaths. The researchers believe evidence-based medical therapies and improved lifestyle modifications are to thank for the reduced rates. It is noted, however, that more work is needed to improve cardiovascular outcomes and reduce mortality. The hard work is far from over!
The researchers wrote:
“A significant concern is the possibility that [cardiovascular disease] mortality rates stop decreasing and perhaps even increase, as suggested by provisional estimates though the third quarter of 2015 of higher mortality rates than in 2014 for [heart disease] and stroke.”
The team is concerned that increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, which predispose one to develop cardiovascular-related issues later on in life, will upturn this trend. For this reason, it’s important now more than ever that every individual gets educated on the simple, everyday choices they can make to reduce their likelihood of developing diseases of affluence, so they may live a long, healthy life.
It was concluded:
“Given the high absolute burden and associated costs of heart disease and stroke, continued vigilance and innovation are essential in our efforts to address the ongoing challenge of cardiovascular disease prevention. However, the recent deceleration in the rate of decline in heart disease mortality is alarming and warrants expanded innovative efforts to improve population-level cardiovascular disease prevention.”
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