heartdiseasefacts.com
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Heart disease is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States. Not only is it the leading cause of death, someone dies every 33 seconds from a cardiovascular-related disease.
Michigan is no exception. According to estimates, more than 30,000 residents die from heart disease and stroke each year. The good news is that there are many things communities and individuals can do to reduce their risk of cardiovascular-related diseases. In fact, up to 90% of heart disease is preventable through education and action.
The first step is to raise awareness. Nearly half of adults have hypertension, and Michigan has one of the highest prevalence rates. Surprisingly, most people don’t even know they have this virus, giving it the nickname “silent killer.” These conditions affect your daily life and put you at risk for potentially fatal conditions such as heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, the more facts that are known, the more we can normalize them and prioritize screening.
Some of the more obvious steps we can take include lifestyle-related measures, such as maintaining a healthy weight and eating a nutritious diet. But taking these actions is easier said than done, especially for the state’s seniors. That’s why, in addition to providing high-quality, accessible health care for preventive check-ups and chronic treatment planning, we also support the social and mental health of older adults so they can live healthy lifestyles. We need to respond to needs.
One of the best pathways to health is nutritional literacy. To prevent obesity and manage chronic food-related diseases, populations need to be connected to food security programs and resources to ensure access to optimal and stable food sources. However, this is further complicated by the fact that households with very low food security are six times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than those who are food secure. It’s not just about helping people make nutritious decisions, it’s also about ensuring they have access to healthy food in general.
This is where partnerships between health care providers and local nonprofits can play an important role. At CCA Health Michigan, many of our members have access to food resources, and our care teams incorporate nutrition education into care plans as needed. We also work closely with community food banks such as CARES, Gleaners, and the Eastern Michigan Food Bank to support nutrition literacy efforts and ensure our members are aware of these important resources when they need them. Masu. March is National Nutrition Month, so it’s the perfect time to support your local food bank.
There are also lesser-known but equally dangerous aspects of heart health. One is when heart health is combined with depression and social isolation. Not only are patients with both depression and heart disease more likely to have a heart attack, but they may also be at higher risk for depression as they retire or have fewer family and friends living nearby.
It is essential for communities to identify these factors early and rely on resources to help reduce their impact.
Heart health poses significant risks to our condition, but we hold the key to making lifestyle changes that can positively impact these outcomes. In addition to access to routine and preventive health care, helping people manage their nutrition, stay involved in their communities, and stay physically active can help keep the silent killer at bay. .
Linda Perkins, RN, is director of clinical operations at CCA Health Michigan.
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