CDC: 25% of Heart Disease Deaths Preventable with Simple Lifestyle Changes

Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the US, accounting for around 800,000 deaths each and every year. However, a massive 200,000 lives could be saved if those at risk were more proactive when it comes to looking after their own health in the simplest of ways. Common sense measures like eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and quitting cigarette smoking could quickly slash 25% from the number of cardiovascular fatalities each year in America.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease death are on the decline in the US though are still massively higher than they need to be. As of today, the condition is the cause of one in every three deaths nationwide.

“These findings are really striking because we are talking about hundreds of thousands of deaths that don’t have to happen when they happen,” stated CDC director Thomas Frieden.

One of the most alarming finding from the study was the way in which those living in the southern states of the US seemed to be more prone to fully preventable heart disease fatalities.

“It’s unfortunate that your longevity may be influenced more by your “ZIP code” than “genetic code,” he added.

He also went on to discuss the way in which the Affordable Care Act could help reduce the number of avoidable deaths.

The advice from the CDC remains the same today as it has for decades – a simple and ongoing regime of proactive habit changing that literally anyone is capable of. And as always, the first step is a full and focused consultation with a health professional to assess things like BMI, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, general hear health and the risk associated with any medication being taken.

Getting active to ward off heart problems could be as simple as taking a ten-minute walk three times a day, for at least five days each week. Smokers are once again being urged to cut down or quite altogether, while those not currently hooked on tobacco should give the habit a wide berth.

And in addition to the preventative measures, the CDC also recommends that citizens across the US educate themselves on the early signs of cardiovascular problems and heart attacks – a measure that in its own right could save thousands of lives every year.