The Skinny:
Sometimes progress or at least awareness comes by way of unpleasant news. The American Heart Association (AHA) was undoubtedly aware of this when it issued its recent report on what’s killing and physically disabling Americans. Its sober annual list, which relies on the latest data available, touches on everything from cardiovascular disease to strokes, heart attacks, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes and more. In many ways, it serves as America’s failing health report card, highlighting the alarming trends that continue to put millions at risk. WellWell has pulled some of the AHA report’s highlights, okay, they are actually lowlights, to underscore just where Americans are putting themselves at risk. It should serve as a warning. Read on.
The Slate:
Leading Killer
Heart disease and stroke claimed more lives in the U.S. in 2022 than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was cited as the underlying cause of 941,652 deaths. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) caused 371,506.
Hearts Under Attack
Sudden cardiac arrest mortality was the underlying cause of almost 20,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2022. Any mention of sudden cardiac arrest mortality was 417,957.
Down In Smoke
Smoking was the second leading risk factor for years of life lost to premature mortality and the fourth leading risk factor for years of life lived with disability or injury in 2021.
Bad Stroke
Approximately 1 of every 20 deaths in the U.S. in 2022 was attributed to strokes, accounting for more than 165,393 deaths. On average someone died of a stroke every 3 minutes 11 seconds during this year.
Inactivity Prone
About 25 percent of U.S. adults met the Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities in 2022. Among U.S. high school students in 2021, less than 25 percent were physically active for 60 minutes or more every day of the week.
Fat Chance
The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among adults from 2017 to 2020 was about 42 percent in males and females. The age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity in this group was almost seven percent in males and almost 12 percent in females. The prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents 2 to 19 years old from 2017 to 2020 was almost 20 percent.
The Cholesterol Count
Just more than 86 million U.S. adults, or about 35 percent of this population, had total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher in 2020. Almost 25 million, or 10.0% of US adults, had total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or higher.
Dialing In Diabetes
About 30 million U.S. adults, almost 11 percent of this population, were diagnosed with diabetes in 2020. Another almost 10 million had undiagnosed diabetes, while 115 million, about 46 percent of this group, were believed to be pre-diabetic.
Eyes Up:
Is there any number that surprises you? Let us know at info@wellwellusa.com.
