From 2006 to 2010, the number of people in the United States who report they have been told by a health professional they have coronary heart disease declined overall from 6.7 percent to 6 percent. The data come from CDC′s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a phone survey conducted each year of adults aged 18 and over.

Shocking Look At The High Cost Of Childhood Obesity [INFOGRAPHIC]

The report attributes the decline to a combination of reductions in prevalence of high risk populations for heart disease such as smokers, patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, and uncontrolled high blood cholesterol along with improvements in treatments for heart disease.

Despite that decline, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States killing roughly the same number of Americans each year as cancer, lower respiratory diseases (including pneumonia), and accidents combined.

The highest rates of self–reported coronary heart disease are among older adults aged 65 and over (19.8 percent) and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (11.6 percent).

The report also notes geographic differences in self–reported coronary heart disease. In 2010, coronary heart disease prevalence ranged from lows of 3.7 percent in Hawaii and 3.8 percent in the District of Columbia to highs of 8 percent in West Virginia and 8.2 percent in Kentucky. Generally, populations in Southern states reported the highest levels of coronary heart disease.

Five Things To Do When The Money Runs Out

“Where you live and how you live matters to your heart,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H . “The Million Hearts national initiative, which can prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years, focuses on actions people can take themselves and actions that businesses, communities and health providers can take to prevent heart attacks and strokes today.”

Million Hearts seeks to improve clinical care by helping patients learn and follow their ABCS:

• Aspirin for people at risk
• Blood pressure control
• Cholesterol management
• Smoking cessation

Fewer than half of Americans who should be taking an aspirin a day are taking one; fewer than half of Americans with high blood pressure have it under control.  Only 1 in 3 Americans with high cholesterol is effectively treated, and less than a quarter of Americans who smoke get help to quit when they see their doctor.

“We’re all at risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Jing Fang, M.D., epidemiologist with CDC′s Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. “People of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities are affected. However, certain groups, including American Indians/Alaskan Natives, African Americans and older adults, are at higher risk than others.”

The MMWR report on state coronary heart disease prevalence is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
For more information about Million Hearts visit .

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff discuss the top risk factors in Huffington Post that everyone should pay attention to and adjust their lifestyle if needed to live a longer life.

Click here for full article in Huffington Post

If you’d like more information on Strokes go to American Stroke Association

Related Articles:

Stroke: Know The Facts

Important Factors African-Americans Can Prevent Against Cardiovascular Disease

How Did I Have A Stroke In My 20′s?

Gospel Artists And Choirs Raise Their Voices For Stroke Awareness

According to the American Heart Association, one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, the rate is higher in African Americans. People who suffer from high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease, kidney disease and renal failure. Sufferers are also at a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure, has no symptoms but is easy to diagnose by your doctor. While there are no symptoms, there are causes. See the list below to see if you fall in the high risk category and make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly and consult a doctor if it is high. High blood pressure registers at 130/80 or higher.

Causes of high blood pressure:

Genetics – Family history plays a major roll in the likely hood of developing high blood pressure. Just as hair color, height and eye color runs in families so does high blood pressure. While you can’t control your heredity you can take steps to lead a healthy lifestyle that will cut down on your chances of developing hypertension.

Poor Diet – Salty and fatty foods, specifically those that contain high concentration of saturated fats are major contributors to hypertension.

Obesity – People who are overweight have a higher rate of high blood pressure.

Lack of physical activity – Excersize helps the heart in many ways and conversly an inactive lifestyle can lead to high blood pressure.

Age – As people get older their risk of developing hypertension increases.

Stress – People who reported high levels of stress were more likely to have high blood pressure.

Drinking too much alcohol – Anything more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women can lead to high blood pressure.

Smoking and second-hand smoke – Smoking temporarily increases blood pressure and can damage arteries. Even second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Take this quiz from the American Heart Association to see if you are at risk for high blood pressure.

VIA:  WebMd.Com

By Stephanie Watson
WebMD The Magazine
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

How Does The Human Heart Function?

Every day, your heart beats about 100,000 times, sending 2,000 gallons of blood surging through your body. Although it’s no bigger than your fist, your heart has the mighty job of keeping blood flowing through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels that feed your organs and tissues. Any damage to the heart or its valves can reduce that pumping power, forcing the heart to work harder just to keep up with the body’s demand for blood.

So how do you make sure your heart is in tip-top shape? “Keeping your body in good health helps keep the heart a more efficient organ,” Krasuski advises. In other words, eat healthy, well-balanced meals and don’t skimp on the exercise.

Laughter:  The Good Heart Medicine

Health experts now have proof that laughter is good medicine.

A good belly laugh can send 20% more blood flowing through your entire body. One study found that when people watched a funny movie, their blood flow increased. That’s why laughter might just be the perfect antidote to stress.

When you laugh, the lining of your blood vessel walls relaxes and expands, Krasuski says. So have a good giggle. Your heart will thank you.

Male/Female Heart Attack Symptoms:

When it comes to matters of the heart, men and women definitely aren’t created equal. For instance, a man’s heart weighs about 10 ounces, while a woman’s heart weighs approximately 8 ounces.

Not only is a woman’s heart smaller than a man’s, but the signs that it’s in trouble are a lot less obvious. When women have a heart attack — and more than a half million do each year — they’re more likely to have nausea, indigestion, and shoulder aches rather than the hallmark chest pain.

Heart disease is the biggest killer of both men and women. And both genders should heed this healthy advice: Don’t smoke, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, and watch for the obvious and the more subtle warning signs your heart could be in trouble.

Click here for more…

VIA:  Health.Com
By:  Denise Mann

The study conducted by Sabina Sieri, PhD, of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, a national institute for cancer research in Milan, Italy, has found that carbohydrates with a high glycemic index tend to be the carbs that effect the heart.  This is not say that a diet high in carbohydrates puts you at risk, but to say that a diet high in carbohydrates that are rapidly absorbed puts you at risk.

The glycemic index ranks on a scale from 1 to 100 how quickly (or slowly) carbohydrates affect your blood-sugar levels. (White bread scores 100.) Foods that rank below 55 are considered to have a low glycemic index and produce only small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels; foods that rank above 70 are said to have a high glycemic index and tend to cause unhealthy spikes in blood sugar.

The researchers surveyed roughly 48,000 Italian adults about their diets in detail, noting the amount and types of carbohydrates they consumed on a regular basis. (People with diabetes, who have abnormal levels of blood sugar and insulin, were excluded.) Not surprisingly—the study was conducted in Italy, after all—bread, pasta, and pizza were common sources of carbs.

Click here for more…

VIA:  Health.Com

Stress creates inflammation
Several studies have linked stress, job strain, and general demoralization to a greater risk for heart disease, though the relationship is less causal than other lifestyle factors, like smoking.

Stress triggers an increase of cortisol, a “stress hormone,” which can raise blood-sugar levels and blood pressure. The overproduction of cortisol can lead to a constant state of chemical arousal, which can eventually cause a heart attack.

One study of Belgian workers found that those who reported feeling they had little control of their work life had increased levels of markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, which are linked to heart disease.

Click here for more…

VIA: Diabetes.Org

For every two-ounce serving of hot dogs, bacon, sausage, or deli meats, the risk of diabetes rose 19 percent and the risk of heart disease increased 42 percent. There is a relatively small risk associated with eating up to one serving of processed meat per week. The greater risk may be associated with salt and other preservatives, rather than the fat content. Researchers will present these findings this week at an American Heart Association conference in San Francisco.

Click here for more…

Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. Treatments can limit heart damage but they must be given as soon as possible after a heart attack starts. Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.
If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Tell the operator your symptoms and that you think you’re having a heart attack.
Do women of color need to worry about heart disease?
Yes. African American and Hispanic American/Latina women should be concerned about getting heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than white women. These risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you’re a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.

Click here for more…

So what accounts for the hike? Obesity, heart disease, diabetes—you name it. As studies began linking fatty diets to a litany of maladies, meat eaters started looking for an alternative to beef, and chicken farmers began cranking out the birds. Not long after, pork was relegated to its inferior position as “the other white meat.”

Looks like we should have listened to Alfred Hitchcock. When he filmed The Birds in 1963, just as chicken sales were starting to climb, he must have been trying to warn us about what we were up against: killer birds. Don’t believe it? Take a look at the sorry state of chicken today, compliments of Eat This, Not That! and the new New York Times bestseller Cook This, Not That!

#8: WORST CHICKEN SANDWICH

Chili’s Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich

1,560 calories

86 g fat (14 g saturated)

4,010 mg sodium

Take a minute to free associate. What comes to mind when you hear “chicken sandwich”? A light-and-healthy dinner? A good post-workout lunch? Both of those sound about right. But here’s where this sandwich veers from expectations: It sucks up three-fourths of your day’s calorie allotment. Plus it exceeds your daily recommendation for both fat and sodium. That’s what you call a dirty bird.

Bonus tip: Think this sandwich is bad? Click here to see the shocking list of the 30 worst sandwiches in America. (Swapping these for smarter choices will help you keep the weight off when you’re on the go.)

Eat This Instead!
Guiltless Grill Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Veggies
610 calories
12 g fat (5 g saturated)
1,310 mg sodium

#7: WORST CHICKEN SALAD

California Pizza Kitchen Waldorf Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

1,570 calories

30 g saturated fat

2,082 mg sodium

Salads are healthy, right? Well, CPK’s got some gnarly greens. Fully half the restaurant’s salads top a thousand calories, but this one is hands-down the worst. To be fair, part of the day-and-a-half’s worth of saturated fat comes from the blue cheese dressing. The trouble is, even if you switch to the restaurant’s lighter Dijon vinaigrette, you’re still facing 1,485 calories. Not a massive savings.

Bonus tip: For full nutrition information for all of your favorite chain restaurants and thousands of foods, download the bestselling Eat This, Not That! iPhone app. It’s like having your own personal nutritionist in your pocket at all times, and will help you avoid the caloric calamities and guide you to the best ways to lose your belly fast.

Eat This Instead!
Moroccan Chicken Salad, Half
412 calories
4 g saturated fat
309 mg sodium

#6: WORST CHICKEN RICE DISH

Applebee’s Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl

1,880 calories

13 g saturated fat

4,250 mg sodium

Applebee’s is making strides toward a healthier menu, but as of yet the chain still has a lot of ground to cover. To its credit, it recently launched a sub-menu featuring entrees that all fall below 550 calories. Unfortunately the regular menu still carries caloric catastrophes like this tortured bird. For starters, the Crispy Orange Chicken Bowl delivers nearly a day’s worth of calories, but to top that, it throws in more sodium than you’d find in a dozen large orders of McDonald’s French Fries—a whopping two days’ worth! That might be good for thawing your driveway in a snowstorm, but it’s not so great for fueling your body.

Bonus tip: Save calories, time, and money with our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter. Sign up today and you’ll get the free Eat This, Not That! guide to shopping once and eating for a week!

Eat This Instead!
Margherita Chicken
700 calories
8 g saturated fat
2,420 mg sodium

#4: WORST CHICKEN APPETIZER

Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken Quesadilla

2,141 calories

133 g fat (61 g saturated fat)

3,477 mg sodium

Since 2008 we’ve been harping on Outback to clean up its act, but so far the chain has refused. In fact, the only reason we were able to track down this nutrition information is that New York and California laws forced restaurant franchises to disclose their numbers. And only after we made it public did Outback start offering the numbers to all its customers. A victory for nutrition? Not yet—not with numbers like these.

Bonus tip: Battle the liquid bulge: Avoid all drinks on this shocking list of The Worst Drinks in the Supermarket. Otherwise the excess liquid calories can cost you an extra 10 or 20 pounds of fat a year, easily.

Eat This Instead!

Walkabout Soup of the Day – Cup

81 calories

21 g fat (13 g saturated)

1,175 mg sodium

#3: WORST AMERICAN CHICKEN ENTREE

The Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Biscuits

2,511 calories

66 g saturated fat

2,725 mg sodium

Eat This Instead!

One-Half Chicken Salad Sandwich

548 calories

8 g saturated fat

850 mg sodium

#2: WORST CHICKEN CUTLET

The Cheesecake Factory Crispy Chicken Costoletta

2,556 calories

85 g saturated fat

2,755 mg sodium

This entrée comes served with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and it’s described on the menu as being “lightly breaded.” Sounds relatively healthy, right? Therein lies the Curse of The Chicken Entree: It always sounds relatively healthy. You’d never guess the damage this dish was capable of unless The Cheesecake Factory decided to be completely forthright and disclose on the menu that it carries so much butter that it could exceed the saturated fat limit for an entire family of four!

Bonus tip: Preserve your waistline by knowing the other Cheesecake Factory items that made our list of The 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America. Then learn the simple swaps on the Eat This, Not That! list that will help you lose weight while still eating your favorite foods—and without ever dieting again.

Eat This Instead!

One-Half Chicken Salad Sandwich

548 calories

8 g saturated fat

850 mg sodium

#1: WORST CHICKEN ENTREE IN AMERICA

The Cheesecake Factory Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic

2,579 calories

62 g saturated fat

1,983 mg sodium

Healthy it may sound, but chicken-in-pasta is the culinary equivalent of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In fact, The Cheesecake Factory’s menu features fully half a dozen chicken-pasta entrees in excess of 2,000 calories apiece. That’s a full day’s energy needs in one meal. Level that with the rest of the oversized entrees and The Factory emerges as the absolute worst restaurant in the country. (You’d be better off going on a Haagen-Dazs binge.)

Eat This Instead!

One-Half Chicken Salad Sandwich

548 calories

8 g saturated fat

850 mg sodium

Have your own unhealthy dishes to add to the list? Please share your choices with the rest of us here. (And follow me at Twitter for a chance to win a new iPad loaded with the Eat This, Not That! and other apps!)

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Source: Yahoo! Health – Men’s Health