Cardiac disease has been the world’s leading cause of death for more than a century, and experts predict it will become even more prevalent in the decades to come.
A report released this month by the American Heart Association (AHA) predicts that at least six in ten American adults could suffer from cardiovascular disease in the next 30 years.
The rate of hypertension (high blood pressure) – which is one of the main risk factors for heart disease – is expected to increase from 51.2% in 2020 to 61.0% in 2050.
HEART ScreamS MORE LIKELY DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND OTHER STRESSFUL PERIODS, STUDY SHOWS
Diabetes, another major risk factor, is also expected to increase (from 16.3% to 26.8%). with obesity (43.1% to 60.6%), according to the study published in the journal AHA Circulation.
As a result, the total number of cardiovascular diseases is expected to increase by 11.3% to 15.0% between 2020 and 2050.
READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP
“The cardiovascular disease landscape in the United States is seeing the arrival of a near-perfect storm,” Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi, vice chair of the editorial advisory group and a Boston cardiologist, said in a press release.
“The past decade has seen an increase in cardiovascular risk factors, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, each of which increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.”
ANGER CAN INCREASE RISK OF HEART ATTACK, STUDY FINDS
The study’s lead author, Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said the magnitude of this increase was surprising.
“As a country, thanks to the hard work of clinicians, patients and organizations like the American Heart Association, we have reduced heart disease mortality by more than 50% in recent years, but we have not the same progress in disease prevention,” Maddox told Fox News Digital.
“We have neglected prevention, chronic disease management and public health.”
On a positive note, researchers determined that high cholesterol (high levels of LDL, or “bad cholesterol”) would decrease (from 45.8% to 24.0%).
They also predicted that diet, exercise and smoking habits will improve, although sleep quality is expected to deteriorate.
ASK A DOCTOR: “WHY DO I HEAR MY HEARTBEATER IN MY EARS?” »
Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to March 2020 and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 2015 to 2019.
“We projected out to 2050, overall and by age, race, and ethnicity, accounting for changes in disease prevalence and demographics,” they wrote.
“(The) most unfavorable trends are expected to be worst among people identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native or multiracial, black or Hispanic.”
The study looked for trends in cardiovascular risk factors based on adverse Life’s Essential 8 levels and clinical outcomes. cardiovascular disease and stroke.
DO YOU WANT TO LIVE LONGER? FOLLOW 8 HEART-HEALTHY HABITS, SAYS AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
According to the AHA, Life’s Essential 8 includes the following eight lifestyle behaviors for optimal heart health:
-
Follow a healthy sleep schedule
-
NO SMOKING
-
Become regular physical activity
-
Adhere to a healthy diet
-
Maintain a healthy weight
-
Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
-
Maintain good health cholesterol level
-
Maintain healthy blood pressure
Overall, the report predicts that clinical cardiovascular disease (affecting the heart or blood vessels) will affect 45 million adults by 2050, and that clinical cardiovascular disease (including hypertension) will affect more than 184 million adults.
“The prevalence of many cardiovascular risk factors and most established diseases will increase over the next 30 years,” the researchers say.
Renato Apolito, MD, medical director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was not involved in the AHA study but shared his perspective on the findings.
One key factor is the projected increase in obesity in the coming decades, Apolito said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“Obesity is very often associated with hypertension, diabetes, Sleep Apnea and hypertriglyceridemia,” he said.
Some of the main causes of obesity are lack of exercise and heavy reliance on processed foods and fast food, he noted.
“I suspect that as our standard of living increases, our reliance on processed and pre-prepared foods – in addition to lack of exercise and lack of sleep due to our busy work lives – will increase obesity as the common denominator leading to all the other risk factors mentioned,” Apolito predicted.
“All of these factors combined would lead to an increase in coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke.”
“We hope this report helps spur much-needed change to improve population health,” Maddox told Fox News Digital.
Researchers recommend that people learn more about the eight life essentials to optimize their cardiovascular health.
“People can get involved in their communities to advocate for broader changes that can help keep people healthy, like nutritious lunches and physical activity in schools, healthier options in restaurants and increased awareness of cardiovascular health,” Maddox said.
Clinicians can also talk with their patients about how to control risk factors, she suggested, and policymakers can work to pass legislation that allows for greater access to healthy foods, places to eat, etc. affordable, high-quality exercise and health care.
Apolito agreed that change was needed.
“We are all under a lot of pressure and stress to work more to make ends meet,” he said.
“This usually leads to the poor lifestyle habits mentioned above.”
The doctor recommends starting small, spending just 10 to 20 minutes a day doing some form of exercise and making conscious decisions to avoid processed foods and fast foods.
“You would maintain a healthier weightwhich would mitigate your risk of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, dyslipidemia and ultimately cardiovascular disease,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Apolito also emphasized that the study is speculative, using predictive models on data from the past and present to predict the future – “which is never easy to do.”
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews/health.
“Hopefully with increased public education we can reverse the trend and improve overall health in the decades to come by making healthy lifestyle choices,” he added.
Original article source: Leading health organization makes surprising prediction about heart disease: ‘almost perfect storm’