How often do you think about your heart health? It can be easy to neglect this in your day-to-day life and many Americans are unsure about the last time they saw a cardiologist or adjusted their diet to be more heart healthy. With heart disease and heart failure one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it’s never been a better time to see a heart specialist and get yourself diagnosed. Heart disease is one of the leading killers in the United States and can creep up on you without your knowing, exacerbated by habits such as smoking, old age and hereditary disposition. Below is a simple rundown of the different heart conditions you can find yourself with, all of which can be diagnosed and prevented by the skills of a heart specialist and healthy daily habits.
Heart Health In The United States
There are many reasons that heart health has become poorer in the United States, with some experts citing lackluster diets and others hereditary reasons. It’s estimated 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year, adding up to one in four deaths, and has caused many advertisement campaigns and heart specialists to encourage increased awareness on the dangers of poor heart health. This includes high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack and additional conditions such as cardiac ablation, angina and stroke.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be inherited and it can be developed over time due to stress or mental illness. Its side effects include hypertension, exhaustion and increased risk for future conditions like dementia, stroke and heart disease. A heart specialist can diagnose if you have high blood pressure or a tendency toward the condition due to your family history. Drugs can be prescribed to control this condition, though this depends on the severity of the case.
Heart Disease
Heart disease remains one of the deadliest forces for American adults today. The leading factors for heart disease include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking. High blood pressure and a genetic predisposition to the disease can also be contributing elements. The direct costs of heart disease surpass $300 billion in medical costs every year. Heart disease that is not controlled and reduced can lead to heart disease, one of the most debilitating conditions in the country.
Heart Attack
The deadliest result of poor heart health is a heart attack. Heart specialists estimate a person having a heart attack every 34 seconds, with the majority of victims already suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure. Age and smoking are also factors for increased risk of heart attack. While not everybody will die from a heart attack, the probability is incredibly high. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to reduce your risk.
Creating A Healthy Heart
There are many small steps you can take daily to increase your heart health and reduce your chances for heart disease or a heart attack. It’s recommended you don’t consume more than 2,400 mg of sodium per day — 1,500 mg is considered ideal and will go a long way in reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol in your system. Regular physical activity remains one of the best ways to keep a healthy heart, with no more than 25 to 30 minutes of moderate-level activity enough to keep your heart going strong. Last, but not least, not smoking and reducing day-to-day stress will also work toward reducing your risk.
Seeing A Heart Specialist
A heart specialist will give you advice on how to keep a healthy heart on top of diagnosing any unseen problems you may have. Bringing your family history will help them analyse potential risk factors and prescribe you the proper medication, therapy or lifestyle changes accordingly to keep you healthy. You may have to make changes to your lifestyle, such as creating an exercise regimen or quitting smoking, to keep your heart strong. Next time you see your family doctor or regular clinic, ask for the assistance of a heart specialist.
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