Nation death rate is on the rise, at least according to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). With that said, the CDC’s information also revealed that more and more Americans are dying from heart disease, thus increasing the US mortality rate.
The numbers from the CDC show that 27.6 million adults are diagnosed with heart disease. This breaks down to about 12% of adults who are dealing with heart disease. On the mortality side, a Wall Street Journal (“WSJ”) news report, in which this post is based, reports that, “The death rate from heart disease rose 0.9% last year.” In addition, the WSJ reports mentions that, “The death rate also rose 3% for stroke, the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S.”
Heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, “describes a range of conditions that affect your heart.” These conditions include:
- blood vessel diseases
- heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- coronary artery disease
- heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects)
Even though all types of heart disease cannot be prevented, the Mayo Clinic does suggests that certain things can be done to help improve your ability to reduce the risk of this condition. These actions include:
- Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
- Quit smoking
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week
- Eat a diet that’s low in salt and saturated fat
- Reduce and manage stress
- Maintain a healthy weight
The WSJ article notes that obesity in the US can be tied to some of the increases that we now see regarding heart disease cases and the rising mortality rate. To read more about the numbers released in the CDC’s report, visit the WSJ link here. As with any medical condition, always speak with your doctor regarding any issues you may experience and any possible treatment.
