In the United States, every year over 600,000 people die due to poor heart health. That is 1 death per minute.
Every. Single. Minute!
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, 1 death in every 4 deaths, in almost any bracket you can think of. Even youth is not protected, which means your children might be in as much danger as you are.
Considering these facts, good heart health should be the number one priority on everyone’s mind. It should especially be of great concern to those with no insurance and limited coverage for certain types of specialists, all of which are much less likely to visit a specialist that can give them complete, specific, cutting-edge information their primary doctor might not be fully up-to-date on.
Heart disease is easily preventable, or at least minimized, for most people.
Even those at high risk from the day they are born can control that risk to some degree. Understanding the important factors of heart health, and how they contribute to your risk for heart disease, is paramount to keeping your heart healthy and vastly lowering the risk of heart disease for you and your family.
Genetics
Your genetic background holds important clues to your risk for heart disease. A long family history of heart problems is a good indicator that you should be especially careful about your heart health.
Doing a little research into your family’s medical history as far back as you can and then informing your doctor about the numbers and types of heart problems that are prevalent in your family can help your provider choose the right direction for your care.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions, or the medications associated with them, can increase your risk for heart disease. This is a very complicated part of your personal risk factors. Be sure to ask your primary doctor of the general risks of any condition you develop and any medication you might be taking. If you have other factors that put you at greater risk than normal, start looking for a cardiologist that can look at your medical history and records and explain if you are at added risk for heart problems.
Race & Ethnicity
Race and ethnicity play a larger role in heart health than was ever realized. For example, ethnic Hispanics have much greater risk factors but are 25% less likely to develop heart disease than their white counterparts. Blacks, on the other hand, are 20 times more likely than any other race or ethnicity to develop heart problems of all kinds and they have these risks from birth.
Understanding your racial and ethnic make-up could be of paramount importance in your heart health. Researching your family history and uncovering these important facts could end up being a life-saving venture for you and your family.
