CDC: 200K Deaths From Cardiovascular Disease Could Be Avoided
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One out of three deaths in the United States is caused by cardiovascular disease. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 200,000 deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided each year.
The CDC said doctors need to encourage healthy habits during every patient visit.
Habits like getting more exercise, eating well, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking.
More than half of these preventable deaths were people under the age of 65. And, men have a higher risk of preventable death.
"We had big reductions in people over 65, but much smaller reductions in that group of 55-65 year olds," said Dr. Tom Frieden, of the CDC. "So once you hit 40 or 50 your risk of high blood pressure and the harms from smoking are really magnified."
The report also shows counties in the southern states have the greatest risk of dying from preventable death.
