The Future of Heart Disease

It is clear to all of us that we have collectively been through something big. The whole world has been upended by COVID-19 on every level. We became aware that we can all become victims of a disease that is uncontrolled and uncontained, no matter who we are. We also have seen that some people are greater victims depending on where they live, their access to care, and more than anything, if they had any underlying medical issues. 

We have come through the worst, but now we must deal with the reality of the future. 

A consensus done in 2020 projects that by 2026, compared with the year 2025, the number of people with diabetes will increase by 39%, hypertension by 27%, high cholesterol by 28%, and obesity by 18%. Because of this, there is an estimated increase of heart attacks by 30%, stroke by 34% and heart failure by 33%. These increases are projected to mostly be in racial and ethnic minorities. 

Through lifestyle interventions, such as diet, exercise, stress reduction, and weight management, 80% of the time heart disease is preventable. 

With education and advocacy and access to healthy foods and lifestyles, these statistics can be altered. Our focus needs to shift from being a disease-focused society to being a root-cause and prevention-focused culture.  

We have the information, data, research, and technology to make this happen. We need to look at this as a wake-up call instead of a fait-au-complet. There is something we can all do, individually and collectively. 

Let’s start with education and self-advocacy and empowerment.
Let’s begin by putting our hearts first.
Let’s change this story, before it even begins.
Let’s start small, one step at a time.  

Movement, nourishment, relating and refreshing, walking, decreasing sugars in the diet, getting support in the community/friends/family, and sleeping 7 hours a night.  It’s a beginning and it is a start, which will change the statistics immediately. It’s doable, so let’s just do it. 

Cardiovascular Disease Projections in the United States Based on the 2020 Consensus Estimates

What changes will you commit to for your own heart health? Let us know down below!