Latest news with #SaraKing
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Heart attack deaths plummet 90% in 50 years – but three other conditions are surging, study warns
A new study shows heart attack deaths in the US have dropped nearly 90 percent over 50 years - but other heart conditions are on the rise. Published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine analyzed age-adjusted heart disease death rates among adults 25 and older from 1970 to 2022. Researchers found that overall heart disease deaths dropped 66 percent over 50 years, mainly due to an 89 percent decline in heart attack deaths. In 1970, heart attacks caused over half of heart disease deaths but, by 2022, they accounted for less than one-third. 'This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed,' said Sara King, M.D., the study's first author and a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford School of Medicine in California, in a news release. 'There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence,' she added. Advances like more bystander CPR, better awareness of early heart attack symptoms, improved treatments, and no-smoking laws have helped reduce heart attack deaths. However, experts warn that as more people survive heart attacks, other forms of heart disease are now on the rise. Deaths by Arrhythmia, when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly, increased 450 percent, while heart failure deaths rose 146 percent. Hypertensive heart disease deaths rose 106%, driven by long-term high blood pressure. Researchers link these rising causes of death to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure in the U.S. Obesity in the U.S. rose from 15 percent in the 1970s to 40 percent by 2022. Nearly half of adults now have type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure rates grew from 30 percent in 1978 to almost 50 percent in 2022. 'The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood,' said senior author Latha Palaniappan, M.D., associate dean for research and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. The American Heart Association's 'Life's Essential 8' outlines key steps to reduce heart disease risk: eat healthy, manage weight, quit smoking, exercise more, improve sleep, and maintain healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Heart attack deaths plummet 90% in 50 years – but three other conditions are surging, study warns
A new study shows heart attack deaths in the US have dropped nearly 90 percent over 50 years - but other heart conditions are on the rise. Published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine analyzed age-adjusted heart disease death rates among adults 25 and older from 1970 to 2022. Researchers found that overall heart disease deaths dropped 66 percent over 50 years, mainly due to an 89 percent decline in heart attack deaths. In 1970, heart attacks caused over half of heart disease deaths but, by 2022, they accounted for less than one-third. 'This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed,' said Sara King, M.D., the study's first author and a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford School of Medicine in California, in a news release. 'There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence,' she added. Advances like more bystander CPR, better awareness of early heart attack symptoms, improved treatments, and no-smoking laws have helped reduce heart attack deaths. However, experts warn that as more people survive heart attacks, other forms of heart disease are now on the rise. Deaths by Arrhythmia, when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly, increased 450 percent, while heart failure deaths rose 146 percent. Hypertensive heart disease deaths rose 106%, driven by long-term high blood pressure. Researchers link these rising causes of death to obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure in the U.S. Obesity in the U.S. rose from 15 percent in the 1970s to 40 percent by 2022. Nearly half of adults now have type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure rates grew from 30 percent in 1978 to almost 50 percent in 2022. 'The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood,' said senior author Latha Palaniappan, M.D., associate dean for research and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. The American Heart Association 's 'Life's Essential 8' outlines key steps to reduce heart disease risk: eat healthy, manage weight, quit smoking, exercise more, improve sleep, and maintain healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Heart attack mortality rate significantly drops in US; Three other heart conditions are killing Americans instead
It's the classic – bad news always accompanies the good news. Heart disease is the leading cause of death around the world. For decades, the United States has marked triumphant progress in battling heart attacks – formally known as acute myocardial infarctions. However, overall heart disease death rates over the past five decades dropped by 66% in American adults aged 25 and older, according to a new study. What's even better, deaths from heart attacks dropped by nearly 90%. But as one front recedes, other cardiovascular threats surge forward, changing the battlefield entirely. What does the study say? A recent analysis in the Journal of the American Heart Association reports that, from 1970 to 2022, the age-adjusted mortality from heart attacks dropped by a staggering 89% among adults aged 25 and older – driving a 66% overall reduction in heart disease deaths. In 1970, more than half of heart disease deaths were caused by heart attacks, a form of acute ischemic heart disease. By 2022, the age-adjusted death rate from heart attacks had fallen 89%, with fewer than one-third of heart disease deaths attributed to them. Dr. Sara King, the lead study author and a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, said in a statement , 'Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it and how we treat it has evolved considerably.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo King added, 'There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence.' Why this dramatic decline in heart attack mortality? This extraordinary achievement stems from a constellation of coordinated advances: Prevention and lifestyle interventions: Aggressive anti-smoking campaigns, improved cholesterol and blood pressure control, and heightened public awareness of heart attack symptoms. Faster diagnosis: Empowered by bystander CPR education, streamlined emergency response systems, and advanced biomarker testing (like troponin), early recognition has saved countless lives. Cutting-edge treatments: The rise of percutaneous coronary interventions (stents), mechanical support devices, and potent platelet inhibitors, coupled with refined critical care practices, transformed the management of acute coronary events. The result? What was once a major killer now accounts for less than one-third of all heart disease deaths – down from over 50% in 1970. The flip side of the coin: Unfortunately, that positive news has a flip side. Dr. Latha Palaniappan, associate dean for research at Stanford's School of Medicine and senior author of the study, said in a statement, 'Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease.' The research team found that deaths from other types of heart disease surged 81% over the same 50-year period, with three conditions driving the increase. So, while we've quelled the acute heart attack battle, other cardiovascular foes are gaining ground – and fast. Arrhythmias Deaths from irregular heartbeats have exploded by 450% since 1970. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. Your heart may beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular pattern. These irregularities are caused by disruptions in the electrical signals that control your heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation alone affects nearly 10.5 million U.S. adults – many undiagnosed – and dramatically raises stroke and heart failure risks. Heart failure Mortality rates have increased by 146% since 1970. Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This can happen because the heart muscle is too weak or stiff to pump effectively, or because it can't fill with enough blood. It's important to note that heart failure doesn't mean the heart has stopped working entirely, but it is a serious condition requiring medical attention. Some studies indicate a reversal in earlier declines post-2011, with an annual surge of +3.5%. Currently, 6.7 million Americans have it – with projections hitting 11 million by 2050. Disparities are rising – Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities face higher and worsening heart failure mortality. Hypertensive heart disease Deaths have more than doubled (+106%) since 1970. Hypertensive heart disease refers to heart problems that arise from long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). It's a group of conditions, including heart failure and coronary artery disease, that develop when high blood pressure puts extra strain on the heart over time. It's now accelerating – +4.8% per year after 2011, compared to +1.2% prior, as hypertension contributes to 25% of heart failure cases and is linked to 90% of them in older adults. Why such a stark rise? The aforementioned conditions are likely fueled, at least in part, by a growing number of Americans with cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers theorized. Persistent and growing risk factors Obesity: Prevalence surged from ~15% in the 1970s to nearly 40% by 2022. Hypertension: Affects nearly 50% of American adults, up from ~30% in the late 1970s. Type 2 Diabetes: Now afflicts nearly half of adults, amplifying the risk of heart disease. An aging population: As lifespans lengthen, more people live long enough to encounter chronic heart issues like heart failure and arrhythmias. Lack of care and health equity gaps: With fewer dying from heart attacks, more individuals transition into states of chronic cardiovascular stress – fueling heart failure, rhythm disorders, and hypertensive complications. Besides, the benefits of scientific progress have not been shared equally. Lower-income and marginalized communities often lag behind in access to prevention and care – resulting in higher mortality from chronic cardiovascular conditions. As per Palaniappan, 'All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease.' As per King, 'We've won major battles against heart attacks, however, the war against heart disease isn't over.' She added, 'The next frontier in heart health must focus on preventing heart attacks, and also on helping people age with healthier hearts and avoiding chronic heart conditions later in life.' Breaking: US troops killed in Jordan, 3 soldiers dead, 25 injured in drone attack by Iran-backed militants One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
New York Post
a day ago
- Health
- New York Post
Fewer people are dying of heart attacks — but these 3 deadly conditions are on the rise
Even good news can break your heart. A new study found that the number of Americans dying from heart attacks has dropped nearly 90% over the last 50 years — but your ticker still isn't in the clear. Researchers are warning that three other heart conditions are on the rise, now making up a larger share of cardiovascular disease deaths than ever before. Advertisement 4 Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the US. dragonstock – Age-adjusted heart disease death rates among adults 25 and older from 1970 to 2022 were analyzed for the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers found that heart disease deaths overall dropped by 66% during this five-decade period, largely driven by a sharp decline in heart attacks. Advertisement In 1970, more than half of heart disease deaths were caused by heart attacks, a form of acute ischemic heart disease. By 2022, the age-adjusted death rate from heart attacks had fallen 89%, with fewer than one-third of heart disease deaths attributed to them. 4 Advancements in prevention and treatment have dramatically reduced heart disease deaths in recent years. PintoArt – Advertisement 'This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed,' Dr. Sara King, a second-year internal medicine resident at Stanford University School of Medicine and the study's first author, said in a statement. 'There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence,' she added. Among these advances: more bystander CPR, greater awareness of early heart attack signs, improved imaging tools and treatments and public health measures like no-smoking laws. But don't celebrate just yet. Advertisement 'Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease,' said Dr. Latha Palaniappan, associate dean for research at Stanford's School of Medicine and senior author of the study. 4 Roughly 1 in 5 deaths in the US is attributed to heart disease. tiero – The research team found that deaths from other types of heart disease surged 81% over the same 50-year period, with three conditions driving the increase. Deaths from arrhythmias — when the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly — increased the most, with the age-adjusted death rate soaring 450%. Heart failure deaths, caused by the heart's inability to pump enough blood, climbed 146%. And deaths from hypertensive heart disease, linked to long-term high blood pressure, rose 106%. These conditions are likely fueled, at least in part, by a growing number of Americans with cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers theorized. Advertisement For example, obesity rates in the US jumped from 15% in the 1970s to 40% by 2022. Type 2 diabetes now affects almost half of all adults, while the percentage of people with high blood pressure increased from 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022. 4 The rise in obesity in the US started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. motortion – Advertisement 'All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease,' Palaniappan said. The researchers also pointed to the country's aging population and longer life expectancy as potential factors, with more Americans living to ages when heart disease becomes more common. 'We've won major battles against heart attacks, however, the war against heart disease isn't over,' King said. 'The next frontier in heart health must focus on preventing heart attacks, and also on helping people age with healthier hearts and avoiding chronic heart conditions later in life,' she added. Advertisement The American Heart Association has outlined steps to significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, called 'Life's Essential 8.' They include eating a healthier diet, managing weight, quitting smoking, getting more physical activity, improving sleep and maintaining healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Still top cause of death, the types of heart disease people are dying from is changing
Research Highlights: Over the past 50 years, overall heart disease death rates have dropped by 66% and deaths from heart attacks have declined by nearly 90%. The types of heart disease people are dying from most often have shifted from heart attacks to an increase in deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease. Researchers say this shift, in part, is the result of advances in public health measures focused on prevention and life-saving interventions to improve early diagnosis and treatment, allowing people to live longer while managing chronic heart conditions Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 25, 2025 (NewMediaWire) - June 25, 2025 - DALLAS While heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for over a century, the past 50 years have seen a substantial decrease (66%) in overall age-adjusted heart disease death rates, including a nearly 90% drop in heart attack deaths, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. During that time, there have been major shifts in the types of heart disease people are dying from, with large increases in deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias and hypertensive heart disease. In an analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers reviewed the age-adjusted rates of heart disease deaths among adults ages 25 and older from 1970 to 2022. The analysis found: Over this 52-year period, heart disease accounted for nearly one-third of all deaths (31%). During this time, heart disease death rates decreased substantially, from 41% of total deaths in 1970 to 24% of total deaths in 2022. In 1970, more than half of all people who died from heart disease (54%) died because of a heart attack a type of acute ischemic heart disease. The age-adjusted death rate decreased 89% by 2022, when less than one-third of all heart disease deaths (29%) were caused by a heart attack. Conversely, during this time, the age-adjusted death rate from all other types of heart disease (including heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmia) increased by 81%, accounting for 9% of all heart disease deaths in 1970 and 47% of all heart disease deaths in 2022. "This distribution shift in the types of heart disease people were dying from the most was very interesting to us," said the study's first author, Sara King, M.D., a second-year internal medicine resident in the department of medicine at Stanford School of Medicine in Stanford, California. "This evolution over the past 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are managed. However, the substantial increase in deaths from other types of heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias, poses emerging challenges the medical community must address." During the decades reviewed: Deaths from arrhythmias had the largest relative increase, with the age-adjusted death rate rising by 450%. However, arrhythmias still accounted for only about 4% of all heart disease deaths in 2022. Arrhythmias occur when electrical impulses to the heart may be too fast, too slow or erratic, causing an irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common types of arrhythmias. The age-adjusted death rate from heart failure a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen increased 146%. The rate of deaths from hypertensive heart disease heart problems that occur because of high blood pressure that is present over a long time increased by 106%. In addition to analyzing the types of heart disease deaths, the researchers also identified several underlying factors that may account for the shift in deaths from ischemic heart disease to other heart conditions. "Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it and how we treat it has evolved considerably. That's especially true in how we address acute cardiac events that may appear to come on suddenly," King said. "From the establishment and increased use of bystander CPR and automated external defibrillators to treat cardiac arrest outside the hospital setting, to the creation of systems of care that promote early recognition of and quick procedural and medical intervention to treat heart attacks, there have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence." Other specific advancements noted in the study included: The invention in the 1960s of coronary artery bypass grafting and the formation of coronary care units improved in-hospital and long-term heart disease death rates. Cardiac imaging improved in the 1970s with coronary angiography, which was capitalized by the advent of balloon angioplasty in 1977, followed by coronary stenting to open blocked heart arteries in the 1980s to 1990s. Simultaneously, there was significant development of medical therapies in the 1970s to 1990s, including thrombolytics and aspirin to reduce blockages; beta blockers to treat high blood pressure; renal-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors to slow the progression of heart and kidney disease; and statins to control cholesterol. These advances all contributed to the decline in deaths from treatment and deaths due to a second or subsequent acute cardiac event. At the turn of the 21st century, high-intensity statin therapy to lower cholesterol and dual antiplatelet therapy to reduce clotting were established, as well as landmark "door-to-balloon" trials that displayed substantial benefits when care to open blocked arteries was expedited. From 2009 to 2022, high-sensitivity troponins that improved the rapid diagnosis of heart attacks and advanced antiplatelet agents to reduce clotting and restore blood flow to the heart further improved death rates, while lipid-lowering therapies such as ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors emerged to improve options for secondary prevention. In addition to medical advances, significant public health strides, such as smoke-free policies, increased emphasis on physical activity and updated practice guidelines that support improved blood pressure and cholesterol management, have driven much of the improvements, according to the report. Study researchers point out that, despite overall reduction in heart disease and the progress in therapies and guidelines, there has been a substantial rise in many CVD risk factors, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity, in the United States. An aging population is also contributing to an increase in the types of heart disease people are dying from. The report found: From the 1970s to 2022, obesity prevalence has risen from 15% to 40%. Type 2 diabetes including prediabetes, has risen to impact nearly half of all adults in the U.S. in 2020. Hypertension has increased from a prevalence of approximately 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022. Demographic shifts in the U.S. have also contributed significant changes to the landscape of heart disease mortality. From 1970 to 2022, there has been a notable increase in life expectancy, from 70.9 years to 77.5 years. "All of these risk factors contribute to an ongoing burden of heart disease, especially as related to heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmias," said senior author of the paper Latha Palaniappan, M.D., M.S., FAHA, associate dean for research and a professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. "While heart attack deaths are down by 90% since 1970, heart disease hasn't gone away. Now that people are surviving heart attacks, we are seeing a rise in other forms of heart disease like heart failure. The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood." "The American Heart Association has been a leader in both the medical advancements and the policy and guideline initiatives that have contributed to the reduction in overall heart disease deaths," said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, the 2024-2025 American Heart Association volunteer president, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and an adjunct associate professor of Medicine at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. "Through the nearly $6 billion dollars the Association has invested in scientific research since 1948, we have enhanced the knowledge of how we diagnose and treat heart disease in almost all forms. We have been a catalyst in collaborations with the public and private sectors in support of public health policies to improve the communities in which people live, work, learn and play. And we know, that by following the prescription of our Life's Essential 8(TM) health measures, we can prevent most heart disease and reduce deaths from heart disease by reducing the health risk factors that contribute to it." The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 is a measure of cardiovascular health that includes eight essential components for ideal heart and brain health 4 health behaviors and 4 health factors, including: Eat better. Be more active. Quit tobacco. Get healthy sleep. Manage weight. Control cholesterol. Manage blood sugar. Manage blood pressure. "We've won major battles against heart attacks, however, the war against heart disease isn't over. We now need to tackle heart failure and other chronic conditions that affect people as they age," King said. "The cardiology community must prepare to meet this evolving burden through prevention, longitudinal management and multidisciplinary care that supports healthy aging. The next frontier in heart health must focus on preventing heart attacks, and also on helping people age with healthier hearts and avoiding chronic heart conditions later in life." The authors note several limitations to this study: There is likely substantial differences in these reductions in heart disease deaths by age, sex, race, ethnicity, region and urbanization. The study did not analyze data including these components, and research including these factors should be prioritized in future studies to confirm if these overall trends remain valid in subpopulations. The use of multiple iterations of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding system may allow for potential miscoding and presents challenges in maintaining consistency in comparisons across the years. Particularly prominent is the change from ICD-8 to ICD-9 in the year 1979, where the mortality of several conditions (valvular heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, pulmonary heart disease) dramatically increased. The true burden of ischemic heart disease may be underestimated in the findings presented in this study, since certain conditions including heart failure, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and in particular ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, may be overly simplistic. Many of these cases likely have underlying causes that cannot be precisely differentiated using current or past ICD codes. Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association's scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content. Overall financial information is available here. Additional Resources: Multimedia is available on the right column of release link. After June 25, view the manuscript online. AHA news release: Heart disease remains leading cause of death as key health risk factors continue to rise (January 2025) AHA health initiative: Healthy Living Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews Follow news from the Journal of the American Heart Association @JAHA_AHA ### About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173 Cathy Lewis: For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
