A recent study shows most Americans suffer when it comes to heart health. Keep reading to find out what to do if you have heart issues.
According to a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, fewer than 7% of U.S. adults have optimal health. To have optimal health, you need to be healthy across five major areas in heart and metabolic health.
These areas include weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), these five categories represent ideal cardiovascular and metabolic health.
The Study
Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which includes the information of more than 55,000 people over the age of 20. According to the data, most Americans have at least one cardiometabolic risk factor present.
Furthermore, researchers explain that the data shows that cardiometabolic health declines over time. They identify two big factors affecting the decline: rising glucose levels and rising obesity in the population. To illustrate, the most recent data in the study shows that less than a quarter of Americans have a normal body mass index (BMI) and only 37% have healthy glucose levels.
Another major concern for researchers is that the risk distribution isn’t equal across the population. For example, Americans who are male, Mexican American, Black, or older are less likely to be in optimal cardiometabolic health. Another factor is education, as only 5% of Americans with lower education had optimal cardiometabolic health.
What It Means
“We were definitely surprised by the magnitude of the problem,” says Meghan O’Hearn, co-author of the study and a doctoral candidate at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. “That’s a pretty dismal situation, and it’s only gotten worse over the last 20 years.”
O’Hearn emphasizes that these findings should be a “call to action” for policymakers when it comes to improving access to healthy food. In addition, she explains that people can improve their health by eating a heart-healthy diet and becoming more physically active. The AHA provides a checklist of behaviors that are critical for optimal health, which includes the type of food you eat, how much exercise you do, and how much sleep you get.
The Outlook
Improving your cardiometabolic health is priceless, as it gives you the opportunity to live a longer life that is free from chronic disease. If you’re not taking an active role in your health, then start by eating healthily, exercising more, and taking supplements like L-arginine Plus.
As a heart health supplement, its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. So what are you waiting for? Take control of your health by leading a healthy lifestyle and taking L-arginine Plus.