American Heart Month: Keeping a Pulse on Heart Disease

Nearly half the adult population in the United States has heart disease. 1 But not everyone is aware of all of its conditions. Heart disease is often used to refer to coronary heart disease. However, it also covers conditions such as arrhythmias, heart failure, heart valve diseases, congenital and aortic heart disease.

Heart disease is more prevalent as you age. Heart disease affects only 1% of those aged 18-44, but it increases to 14% for people 65-74 and 24% for people 75+.

There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of heart disease. One step towards a heart-healthy eating plan is to swap out a highly processed snack for fruit or whole grains. Exercise regularly and avoid smoking are also important preventive methods. These preventive measures can reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering hypertension (high blood-pressure) and cholesterol.

Sleep is an important component to a healthy life style and heart health. Sleeping patterns vary depending on the individual. The American Heart Association does recommend seven-to-nine hours per night to improve cardiovascular health.

Here are some tips on how to incorporate heart-healthy practices into your daily life. You should also be aware of recent advancements in cardiology.

— Christopher Lee, MD, cardiologist and Verywell Health Medical Expert Board member