Skyler Pointer

Mrs. Jackson

MAWD 3A

10/14/2019

Heart Health

The United States of America has long been facing a problem with heart disease and heart

related illnesses. The problem of heart related problems in America is major threat to millions of

Americans and seems to be an issue that is only getting worse. It is very important to the future of our

country that we start to address the cause and effects of heart related illnesses. Without addressing the

problem and finding a solution, the impact of these heart related diseases and illnesses will only get

worse.

According to the centers for disease control and prevention, heart disease is the leading cause

of death for most ethnicities in the United States (CDC Page 1). Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics

all share heart disease as their number one cause of death (CDC Page 1). Around 610,000 people die of

heart disease every year in the United States (CDC Page 1). Heart disease accounts for nearly one in

every four deaths in the United States (CDC Page 1). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both

men and women in the United States which shows how big of a problem this issue is in our country (CDC

Page 1).

The most common type of heart disease is Coronary heart disease, which kills over 370,000

people annually (CDC Page 1). High blood pressure and cardiac arrest are two other types of heart

diseases that are major problems in the United States. Heart diseases can include a multitude of

conditions that affect your heart. More common types of heart disease can include heart rhythm
problems like arrhythmias, and heart defects you're born with like congenital heart defects and others

(Mayo, Page 1). Heart Disease often involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart

attacks, strokes, or chest pain.

People in the United States need to learn how to protect their hearts health and be able to

effectively keep their heart healthy. Most types of heart diseases can be easily avoided by making better

lifestyle choices. These lifestyle choices can include avoiding smoking, avoiding excessive use of alcohol

or caffeine, eating healthier, and avoiding unneeded stress (Mayo, Page 1). Smoking is a major threat to

heart health because of the direct contact that the toxins from smoking will have with the

cardiovascular systems. Excessive use of alcohol and caffeine can amp the body up to a point where it is

unstable for the cardiovascular systems to control which can lead to problems with the heart system

(Mayo, Page 1). Avoiding major amounts of fat and salt can help the heart to better run. Avoiding

unneeded stress will help to relax the heart and will cause less tension which will help avoid major heart

problems like high blood pressure and unregular heartbeats (Mayo, Page 1). If more American citizens

start to care for their heart health, then we will see a major drop in heart related deaths and illnesses.
 Works Cited

“Heart Disease Facts & Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.

“Heart Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Mar. 2018,

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118.