KEARNEY — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most races and ethnicities in the United States.

February is American Heart Month, and it’s worth taking the time to learn why heart disease is so dangerous.

“The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart disease. The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects blood flow to the heart. Reduced blood flow can cause a heart attack,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the CDC, one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds in the United States. Approximately 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths.

From 2014 to 2015, heart disease cost the United States approximately $219 billion annually, including lost productivity due to medical services, medicines, and deaths.

Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease, killing 365,914 people in 2017, according to the CDC. Approximately 18.2 million adults over the age of 20 have some form of coronary artery disease, and approximately 2 in 10 deaths from coronary artery disease occur in adults under the age of 65.

Heart attacks also occur frequently, with someone having one every 40 seconds in the United States. Approximately 805,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, and for 605,000 of those, this is their first heart attack.

Therefore, the facts show the danger of heart disease and how deadly it is. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. According to the CDC, about 47% of people have at least one of these three risk factors.

High blood pressure: “High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is a medical condition that occurs when the pressure of blood in arteries and other blood vessels is too high. If high pressure is not controlled, it can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, brain, etc. can affect major organs in the body,” the CDC says.

High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medications can reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack.

High blood cholesterol: According to the CDC, cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver or found in certain foods. Although the liver produces enough cholesterol for the body’s needs, we often get even more from our diet.

When you ingest more cholesterol than your body can use, the extra cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries, including your heart. This can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart, brain, kidneys, and other parts of the body.

There are two main types of blood cholesterol. LDL, low-density lipoprotein, or cholesterol, is the “bad” cholesterol because it can cause plaque buildup in the arteries. The other is HDL, high-density lipoprotein, or cholesterol, which is considered the “bad” one. High levels of good cholesterol offer some protection against heart disease, the CDC says.

High blood cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol levels is to have your cholesterol levels tested. Your health care team can measure your cholesterol levels by doing a simple blood test called a “lipid profile.”

Tobacco use: Cigarette smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease such as atherosclerosis and heart attack. According to the CDC, carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke also reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of heart disease, including diabetes, obesity, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Diabetes: The CDC website states that the body needs glucose, or sugar, for energy. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps move glucose from the food you eat into your body’s cells for energy. If you have diabetes, your body cannot produce enough insulin, cannot make full use of its own insulin, or both.

Diabetes causes sugar to build up in the blood. The risk of death from heart disease in adults with diabetes is higher than in adults without diabetes.2 Talk with your doctor about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors, he CDC says. I am.

Obesity: Obesity is excess body fat. Obesity is associated with high levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides and low levels of “good” cholesterol. Obesity can lead to heart disease as well as high blood pressure and diabetes. According to the CDC, talk with your health care team about your plan to lose weight to a healthy level.

Unhealthy diet: Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are associated with heart disease and related diseases such as atherosclerosis. The CDC also warns that too much salt or sodium in your diet can increase your blood pressure.

Physical inactivity: Not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease. It also increases your chances of developing other risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. According to the CDC, regular physical activity may lower your risk of heart disease.

Excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure levels and increase the risk of heart disease. It also increases levels of triglycerides, fatty substances in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease, so the CDC recommends no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks for men.

There are several ways to prevent heart disease.

Healthy Eating: The CDC recommends that people choose healthy meals and snacks to prevent heart disease and its complications. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and eat less processed foods.

Physical activity: Physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight and lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. For adults, the Surgeon General recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or biking, each week. The CDC says children and adolescents should get one hour of physical activity each day.

Check your cholesterol: The CDC recommends that your health care team test your blood cholesterol levels at least once every four to six years. If you have already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or have a family history of high cholesterol, you may need to have your cholesterol tested more often. Ask your health care team about this simple blood test.

For more information about heart disease, its risks, and ways to prevent it, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/.