Recent research indicates that despite decades of progress, fewer Americans are now considered "low risk" for heart disease compared to years past. Adding fuel to the fire, a new study is making headlines with the alarming statistic that 7 in 10 obese teens already have at least one risk factor for heart disease. To help educate families about prevention, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) has released findings from a new national consumer survey and launched a campaign to educate families about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The national survey revealed that more than three in five (61%) Americans incorrectly believe that the processes related to heart disease do not begin until adulthood. Alarmingly, fewer than four in ten (38%) correctly surmise that people should be concerned about living a heart-healthy lifestyle beginning in childhood and continuing throughout every life stage.
Research on reducing heart disease risk clearly shows that a more comprehensive approach to being heart-healthy is key. According to a study published in the journal Circulation in September, despite the success of past heart disease awareness and education campaigns, the recent trend toward reducing cardiovascular risk is now going in reverse. The vast majority (92%) of Americans are still at risk, primarily because of the rise in obesity.
"This is a wake up call for parents and their children in particular," says Laura Hayman, Ph.D., RN, a member of the PCNA Board of Directors and a leading researcher on obesity and cardiovascular disease in children, adolescents, and families. "Some strides have been made; however, since more and more children are currently overweight, they are more likely at risk for obesity-related conditions later in life such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes."
Statistics from a newly released Canadian study echo Dr. Hayman's concerns about the link between the ever-present obesity epidemic and heart disease risk -- particularly among teens. The findings, presented in October at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, showed that among a sample of 14 and 15 year old students, rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity were unusually high and increasing over time.