As human beings, we can’t entirely avoid diseases. Most of us will experience having a disease once or twice in our lives. Studies have even shown that getting a disease once or twice in our lives is essential to our survival. Such an experience improves our immune system, protecting us from other illnesses in the future. However, the story of heart disease in the US is entirely different.
Heart disease is highly preventable, but it seems inevitable in the US. It is the number one cause of death, claiming more than 600,000 lives every year. That’s above cancer, which claims about 500,000 lives annually. More shocking is that millions of Americans are susceptible to heart disease because of lifestyle influences.
Why is it so common in the US?
Many medical professionals have looked into why it’s so common in the US. They’ve found various reasons why. The first of these reasons lie in a person’s lifestyle.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
It’s important to state that a person’s unhealthy lifestyle is the main leading reason people get heart disease.
Despite being a preventable disease, people still choose to live a lifestyle that can lead to heart disease. Experts believe that getting heart disease is a choice by the end of the day. It’s a point of giving up on yourself and your body.
It’s not something you wake up with, nor is it something you gain from exposure. Getting heart disease is a gradual process, and it’s a disease that has a lot of warning signs before you get it. However, an unhealthy lifestyle isn’t just the only reason why people develop heart disease. Sometimes genetics have to do something with it too.
Genetic Influences
Genetic factors play a significant role in heart disease. Studies have shown that people who have a history of heart disease in their family are likely to develop than those who don’t. But this makes heart disease predictable. If you know that your family has a history of heart disease, then you can start making the necessary lifestyle changes to prevent it from happening to you.
Age
Much like genetic influences, age is unavoidable. Old age has been related to heart disease, and it’s an illness that is more common among seniors. But not every elderly has heart disease. Moreover, when it comes to future statistics, the younger generation is becoming more susceptible to the disease than the older generation.
Environmental Influences
The environment of the person also plays a significant role in heart disease. A country like the US, with so many fast-food chains and unhealthy options, promotes living in heart disease. Additionally, family members with heart disease who do not make healthier decisions teach their children that such a disease is inevitable.
What we see, feel, touch, and interact with can affect how we get a particular disease. Once we start normalizing something like heart disease, we are likely to gain it in the future.
Preventing Heart Disease
Now that we’ve discussed the main reasons why heart disease is so common in the US, we have to talk about how we can prevent it or help others prevent it.
Shifting to a Healthier Lifestyle
The main way to prevent heart disease is to shift into a much healthier lifestyle. You don’t have to make a drastic change. You have to ensure that your body mass index is well below the obesity line and you’re not too overweight. If you can, completely stop yourself from being overweight.
Also, start using healthier alternatives to ingredients like sugar and salt. Stevia and Xylitol are great alternatives to sugar and can prevent both heart disease and diabetes among people.
Professional Care
Those who get professional care are also more likely to survive and prevent future cases of heart disease. If you have a senior in your home, ensure that you hire a home health aide to help prevent heart disease. These aides can ensure that your senior gets the exercise they need and consume the right meals for their diet.
Give Up Your Vices
Lastly, it’s time to give up your vices. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the main contributors to heart disease. By giving up your vices, you can live a far better life away from heart disease and many other illnesses out there.
We have to care for ourselves and others if we want to prevent heart disease. By following the preventive tips above, you and your loved ones can prevent such a disease from developing in the future.
