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Prevalence of coronary heart disease in the US keeps falling, is the conclusion of research presented in the latest issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The number of people suffering from heart disease has been declining steadily since the 1960s, the report says.

Better Treatment For Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Linked To Lower Prevalence?

Health officials say that several factors could explain the decline in cardiovascular disease prevalece in the United States which include:

• greater control in heart disease risk factors
• declining incidents of cardiovascular disease
• declining prevalence of high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking

Health officials analyzed data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys (BRFSS) for 2006 - 2010. They reviewed data by age, race, gender and education; from this information they were able to estimate state-specific cardiovascular disease prevalence and trends.

Researchers found that heart disease rates have dropped from 6.7% in 2006 to 6.0% in 2010. Racial/ethnic populations declines during 2010  were observed among whites (5.8%), Hispanics (6.1%) and Asians (3.9%). The report also notes the national decline in cardiovascular disease rates were observed across education, age group and gender categories during this time period. 

Although this is welcome news regarding cardiovascular health for the nation as a whole, BRFSS data also revealed there is much room for improvement. In fact, looking at data for 2010, heart disease rates increased among certain populations.

1. Heart disease prevalence was observed to be greatest among the elderly (people age 65 and older) at 19.8%.
2. Cardiovascular heart disease was more prevalent among men than women at 7.8% and 4.6% respectively.
3. People lacking a high school education tended to have higher rates of heart disease (9.2%) compared to high school graduates (6.7%).
4. Native Americans had the highest prevalence of heart disease at 11.6%, followed by blacks at 6.5%.
   

Combating Heart Disease Is A National Objective

Authors of the CDC's latest heart disease prevalence report stated that one of the mission objectives of the US government's Healthy People 2020 is to reduce the death rate from cardiovascular disease by 20 % from baseline of 126.0 per 100,000 population to 100.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

Regular citizens can become involved in the national effort to improve heart health. Here at Living Fit, Healthy and Happy we've been doing our part to promote awareness about cardiovascular health; last March, I installed the banner "I believe in a healthier nation for all Americans" on this website's upper left sidebar. The banner is provided by Healthypeople.gov which is a website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

When you click on the banner you'll be taken to healthypeople.gov where you can learn about the US goverment's goals for improving the health of American citizens by the year 2020.

You're also welcome to read the growing collection of heart disease articles here at Living Fit, Healthy and Happy. You can access them via the "Cardiovascular Health" category on the left side bar on any page of the website.

There are many proactive steps that you can take to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, make good use of them and take charge of your health because your life depends on it.

If you like this article, please spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, delicious, stumbleupon or however else you keep in touch with your family and friends.

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Article Source

Fang, J. , Shaw, K.M., and Keenan, N.L. Prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease --- United States, 2006 --2010. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6040a1.htm?s_cid=mm6040a1_w

"Heart Disease Prevalence In The US Continues To Fall" copyright 2011 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy. All Rights Reserved.

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