Some people think that heart attacks are an inevitable part of growing older. But there's nothing inevitable about them. In fact, heart attacks are highly preventable. Yet too many men and women are not taking the steps that could help protect them. A recent article in the journal Circulation underscores this observation.
More than three quarters of U.S. adults could benefit from at least one strategy for preventing heart attacks and strokes, according to a recent analysis in the journal Circulation (Volume 118, page 576).
Using a mathematical model, researchers looked at the effects of 11 commonly recommended activities for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the model, if all adults ages 20 to 80 followed through on all preventive activities for which they are candidates, more than 60% of heart attacks and 30% of strokes could be prevented over the next 30 years. The model also predicted that with more typical levels of follow through, heart attacks and strokes could be reduced by 36% and 20%, respectively.
The most beneficial strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease were providing aspirin to individuals at high risk for heart attacks, controlling prediabetes, losing weight for obese people, lowering blood pressure in those with diabetes, and lowering LDL cholesterol in individuals with coronary heart disease.
If you're obese or smoke; have diabetes, prediabetes, or coronary heart disease; or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, ask your doctor whether you are taking advantage of all available measures to reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
