Heart attack deaths plummet 90% in 50 years – but three other conditions are surging, study warns
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How heart attack deaths dropped 90 per cent in 50 years
- A Stanford University study found that overall heart disease deaths in the US dropped 66 per cent over 50 years, largely due to an 89 per cent decline in heart attack fatalities.
- This success is attributed to significant advancements in managing acute cardiac events, including improved treatments, increased bystander CPR, and public health initiatives like no-smoking laws.
- Despite the reduction in heart attack deaths, the study revealed a concerning rise in other heart conditions, with arrhythmia deaths increasing 450 per cent, heart failure deaths rising 146 per cent, and hypertensive heart disease deaths up 106 per cent.
- Researchers link the increase in these other heart-related deaths to the growing prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure among the US adult population.
- Experts stress the importance of shifting focus to prevention, starting from childhood, and recommend following guidelines such as the American Heart Association’s 'Life’s Essential 8' to maintain heart health.