Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States for both men and women. In 2023, about 12% of adults in Tennessee reported being told by a health professional that they had some variation of heart disease. The inability to take care of one’s heart is an issue in many areas around the nation, and Roane County is no exception. Between 2018 and 2022, about 203 deaths occurred annually due to heart disease, and this number continues to rise. In 2024, heart disease was the leading cause of death in Roane County.
As a result of these statistics, Roane County should be worried about advocating for heart health and finding ways to live a heart-healthy life. Heart-healthy living involves understanding your risks, making healthy choices, and taking measures to reduce your chances of getting heart disease.
There are consequences for any bad action you conduct in life and this lesson also applies to not taking care of your heart. Though the consequences that come with some life problems are not critical, the consequences that come with ignoring heart health are life threatening. Some of these include risk of stroke, hypertension, diabetes complications, poor mental health, reduced quality of life, etc. These are just some of the risks and some of them cause hundreds of deaths annually.
Just as there are consequences for not taking care of your heart, there are benefits for taking care of your heart. For example, taking care of your heart helps you gain better mental health, helps you gain better physical health, and improves your blood circulation. To establish these benefits, you have to take precautionary measures that reduce the risk of getting heart disease. Some helpful tips you can include in your daily life include exercising regularly, having a healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, staying away from second hand smoking, maintaining a healthy blood pressure, and more. Implementing these tips into your life can immensely change the status of your heart health.
The heart is one of the most vital organs in the body and when it is not in good health, the body starts to shut down. As a result, heart disease is one of the most tragic diseases worldwide. This disease is one that is extremely real for many people living in your neighborhoods, and it can affect anyone of you at any time. It is important to understand this disease in order to fight against it. By taking preventative measures, you can effectively lower the risks of obtaining heart disease and live a healthy life. Because at the end of the day, a healthy heart leads to a happy life.
Article by Health Science student Hamdia Tamakloe.