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Good News: Deaths Related to Heart Disease Going Down

TMP_5603Heart disease has remained the number one killer in the United States. Many efforts have been made to raise awareness on the prevention of heart disease. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have succeeded in making this their number one mission and spreading the word around prevention.  

The vast amount of awareness surrounding the prevention of heart disease has not gone to waste. A report published in JAMA highlighted the recent decline in cardiovascular mortality. Since 2011 to 2014, the annual rate of decline for all cardiovascular diseases fell from 3.69% to 0.23% in men. Women also presented a significant decline, down from 3.98% to 1.17%.  

Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2011-2012 indicated that Americans improved in controlling smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, three major risk factors for heart disease. While this is a step in the right direction, there remains much work that needs to be done.

Building a strong relationship with your doctor is an important component in ensuring you are receiving the best care for you. Consider these factors next time you visit your doctor. These factors are important factors to discuss for the prevention of heart disease.

1. Stress: When you are experiencing irregular stress, your body may hold extra adrenaline that can stimulate the heart and cause it to skip beats creating increased palpitations. It’s important to let your doctor know if you are anxious or stressed about any particular issue.

2. Exercise: The health benefits of daily exercise are well known. But sometimes even if you exercise daily, you may experience chest pains. It’s important to alert your doctor if this happens. It could be a matter of less strenuous exercise or many other factors. 

3. It happens to the best of us: If you skipped a dose of your medication, don’t worry, just remember to take it the next time. Just let your doctor know that you may have missed a dose or two.  It may make a difference in how your test results look.

4. Vitamins and supplements: Herbal remedies and supplements are great for some medical issues, but could potentially impact your cardiovascular health. Let your doctor know if you are or plan to take vitamins and other supplements.

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