Heart Disease- the leading cause of death in the United States

It appears heart disease is the most common cause of death in america1. Over 15 million people have coronary artery disease (CAD). The annual incidence heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI) is 900,000-1.25 million.

How are we doing in Northwest Brooklyn?

Northwest Brooklyn residents had an average annual heart disease hospitalization rate in of 1,840/100,000 residents in 2003-2004. This was lower than the overall Brooklyn rate (2,001/100,000) and similar to the rate in NYC overall (1,856/100,000). The heart disease death rate in 2003-2004 (334/100,000) was 10% higher than the NYC overall rate (297/100,000).

Though there is a genetic component to heart disease, there are ways to reduce your risk. Preventable and/or treatable risk factors include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking and drug/alcohol use.

Five ways to reduce your risk of heart disease:

1. Increase physical activity

2. Minimize obesity

3. Prevent or control diabetes

4. Reduce or eliminate smoking, alcohol and drugs

5. Get regular check-ups

1. Bertoni AG, Bonds DE, Thom T, et al.  Acute Coronary Syndrome National Statistics: Challenges in Definitions.  American Heart Journal. 2005;149:1055-61.