February is American Heart Month! Did you know that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are America’s No. 1 killer? According to the American Heart Association, CVD claim more lives than other major causes of death. (See below.

Source: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2004 Update

Approximately 64.4 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (heart attack and angina which are chest pains), congestive heart failure, stroke, and congenital heart defects.
However, many of the risk factors that can lead to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes, can be prevented or controlled. Research has shown that men and women who lead healthy lifestyles, including making healthy food choices, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and choosing not to smoke or drink excessively, can significantly decrease their risk of heart disease.

Coronary heart disease alone is the single killer of Americans. This year an estimated 700,000 Americans will have a new heart attack and about 500,000 will have a recurrent attack. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in United States. According to the American Stroke Association, on average, every 3 minutes, someone dies of a stroke.

Also, did you know that coronary heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of women? They are two of the many cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 500,000 women each year.

DISPARITIES

• Cardiovascular disease ranks as the No. 1 killer of African Americans, claiming the lives of 37% of nearly 288,000 blacks who die each year.
• Among blacks, about 41% of men and 40% of women have CVD compared to 30% of white men and 24% of white women.
• The rate of high blood pressure in blacks in the United States is among the highest in the world.
• In 2001, stroke death rates for specific groups were 57 per 100,000 people for white males compared to 85 for black males and 55 per 100,000 people for white females compared to 74 for black females.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related death. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

An emerging risk factor is insulin resistance, a core metabolic dysfunction of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body doesn't respond efficiently to the insulin it makes. According to Gene Therapy Weekly, it affects about 60 million people in the United States. One in four of them will develop type 2 diabetes when their body becomes unable to maintain normal insulin and glucose levels.

Following is a list of conditions typically found in all people; however, the risk is higher for people with type 2 diabetes and an explanation of how they contribute to a patient's risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

• Obesity and Physical Inactivity
Obesity and physical inactivity are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and has been strongly associated with insulin resistance. Exercising and losing weight have been shown to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, reduce blood pressure and help to reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.

• Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure), has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies report a positive association between hypertension and insulin resistance. When a person has both hypertension and diabetes, a common combination, their risk for cardiovascular disease doubles.

Prevention of CVD

By taking the following preventive measures, you can help prevent a stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. What you must do is:

• Lose weight if you are overweight.

• Eat a healthy diet that's low in salt and fat.

• Be more active.

• Limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day.

• Take medicine the way your doctor tells you.

• Know what your blood pressure should be and try to keep it at that level.

Warning Signs

RESOURCES

American Heart Association

American Diabetes Association

American Stroke Association

Tools for African Americans to Reduce Risk for Heart Disease