Sunday, 19 February 2012

• Men and Heart Disease

  OK, men, heart disease is the number one killer of men in the United States.   It kills over 600,000 people a year and 400,000 of those died specfically from coronary heart disease.  Also, about 785,000 a year have that first heart attack.

  The CDC esitmates that in 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States $108.9 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.   The tragedy is that most of this is preventable based on lifestyle, diet weight etc.

  According to WebMD, heart (Cardiovascular) Diseases include:

  • Coronary artery disease (includingheart attack)
  • Abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias
  • Heart failure
  • Heart valve disease
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
  • Pericardial disease
  • Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
  • Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)  

  Risk Prevention

  For people with heart disease, studies have shown that lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels can reduce the risk of—

  • Dying from heart disease.
  • Having a nonfatal heart attack.
  • Needing heart bypass surgery or angioplasty.
  • For people without heart disease, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels can reduce the risk for developing heart disease.

  Early Action is the key

  • In a 2005 survey, most respondents—92%—recognized chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack. Only 27% were aware of all major symptoms and knew to call 9-1-1 when someone was having a heart attack.
  • About 47% of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside a hospital. This suggests that many people with heart disease don't act on early warning signs.  (1)

  CDC

  Tips to help prevent heart disease:

  A man's risk of heart disease begins to rise greatly starting at age 45. You can lower your risk of heart disease by taking certain steps, including:

  • Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. If you smoke, get help quitting.
  • Get your blood pressure checked at least every two years. If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice on how to lower it and keep it under control.
  • Ask your doctor if you need to have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels tested.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Learn about your body mass index, or BMI.
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and foods that are high in fiber. Limit foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, and sodium.
  • Limit alcohol use. Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which causes high blood pressure.
  • Make physical activity a habit. Learn more about the amounts and types of activitythat can help.
  • Control diabetes, if you have it. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions for medications and lifestyle changes.
  • Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 45 to 79 take aspirin to lower their risk of heart attack when the benefit outweighs the possible harm of gastrointestinal bleeding. Discuss your personal risk of both heart disease and gastrointestinal bleeding with your doctor. (2)

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