Highway Health: Heart to Heart

Funny how life sneaks up on you sometimes isn’t it.

One day you’re slim and trim the next day you’ve acquired a spare tire around that waistline. One day you have no trouble jogging a mile or so and the next day you have trouble walking a hundred yards. You wake up one morning and you’re feeling on top of the world and the next day you find yourself looking up from a hospital bed after suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Don’t think that it is so far fetched for you to have a heart attack. In the year 2007 785,000 Americans had their first heart attack and amazingly 470,000 had their second!

It is estimated that over 76,400,000 adults have high blood pressure and of that number only 48% know that they have it and do anything about it such as lifestyle changes or medications. In 2007 high blood pressure was the primary cause of 57,732 deaths and a contributing factor in another 336,350. Another 15% of adults or 33,600,000 have high cholesterol and increased chances of cardio vascular disease and stroke.

Over 18 million or 8% percent of adults in the U. S. have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 36% are pre-diabetic. More importantly it is estimated that over 7 million adults don’t know that they have diabetes. Over 71,000 Americans die from diabetes each year and 65% of these die from heart disease.

Amazingly after all the studies on the hazards of smoking, well over 20% of the adult population still smoke. Almost 20% percent of high school kids from grades 9 through 12 smoke. Over 46% percent of the population in the U. S. has detectable serum cotinine levels that are the direct result of second hand smoke. With the highest percentage (53.6%) in children from 3 to 11 years old. 46.5% of non-smokers from ages 12 to 19 are affected and over 36% of non-smoking adults. Smoking and second hand smoke are proven contributing factors to cardio-vascular disease.

I’m sure you’re well aware of the contributing factors of obesity to heart disease and stroke, well maybe not.

The statistics lean toward a lack of knowledge or a lack of concern.

Almost 70% of Americans are overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 25.

70%, can you believe it! As a country, that is built on the principles of our forefathers, we should be ashamed. To make matters worse almost 40% of our kids are over weight!

Of the 70% of adults who are overweight about 33% are obese with BMI’s of 30 plus and a very high percentage of those are considered morbidly obese with BMI’s of over 38.

Over 78 million men and 71 million women are overweight. Over 35 million men and 40 million women are obese.

Being overweight is a contributing factor in every single disease but more so in cardiovascular disease. A contributing stat to obesity and heart disease you might find interesting is that almost 60% of adults engage in little or no physical activity. 60%! What are you doing! Another 20% do minimal physical activity which leaves only about 20% who are hiking, biking, weight training, walking, doing yoga, Pilates or anything else they can make time for to help them stay in shape!

In the year 1997 about 382,000 cardiovascular surgeries were performed. In 2008 846,000 were done. Cardiovascular disease and stroke costs you, me, your brother, sister, mom, dad and everyone else almost $300 Billion, with a “B,” in 2008!

It probably cost 11% more in 2010.

Heredity plays in some cardiovascular events but very little. If your ancestors weren’t active and had poor nutrition and you live somewhat the same way I’d say that’s a heredity factor. It would be to your benefit to find out why your father, mother or grandparents succumbed to heart attacks or stroke. Try not to make the same mistakes.

I hope you’re getting the picture. Heart disease is not something that happens to everyone else it happens to you. And it happens to you for all the reasons listed above and then some. More importantly you and everyone else, pays for it in numerous ways.

If you would like me to help you improve the condition of your heart call me at our Fitness Road Center, 888-348-7623, get on the website fitnessroad.com or visit the center in Tempe Arizona. Our phone coaches, nutritionist and our new Fusion training systems are all here to help you develop a stronger, healthier heart and a happier you.

God bless you and yours,

Mick