One of these four red flags is seen before 99.6% of heart attacks
16 hours ago
- #cardiovascular disease
- #risk factors
- #prevention
- Researchers identified four key risk factors for heart attack, stroke, or heart failure: high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood-sugar levels, and smoking.
- Over 99% of individuals who suffered coronary heart disease (CHD) had problematic levels in at least one of these four risk factors.
- The study involved health data from 9,341,100 South Korean adults and 6,803 US adults, showing similar results across both cohorts.
- Specific risk factor thresholds include blood pressure ≥120/80 mm Hg, total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL, and past or current tobacco use.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) was the most common risk factor, present in over 95% of South Korean patients and 93% of US patients.
- The study challenges the misconception that serious heart events occur without warning, emphasizing the importance of controlling modifiable risk factors.
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death, with one person dying every 34 seconds in the US.
- The research highlights the importance of primordial prevention efforts to address traditional risk factors before CVD events occur.