SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Health officials with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Thomas Memorial Hospital teamed up to discuss the importance of raising awareness for cardiovascular disease Friday as part of American Heart Month.
Nearly 14 percent of West Virginia adults have cardiovascular disease, according to data from the West Virginia Health Statistics Center. That makes West Virginia number one in the country, something state DHHR Secretary Karen Bowling said needs to change.
Bowling said the state Bureau for Public Health has narrowed their focus on areas that impact cardiovascular disease, so the state population is more educated. She said the major risk factor is smoking, which she added, is a choice. Other risk factors include obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lack of a proper diet and physical activity. She said even through exercise and healthy eating as a smoker, the result of clogged arteries remains the same because of the nicotine content.
Bowling said they have a Chronic Disease Management Bureau that focuses on healthy eating, physical activity, and smoking cessation. She said most people are unaware they are in the high risk category if they have a family history of heart disease.
“That should say to you as a person — ‘If I have a history of family heart disease, I better pay more attention to what I eat, my physical activity, whether or not I have high cholesterol, because I’m at high risk no matter what,'” said Bowling.
Public Health Commissioner and State Health Officer Rahul Gupta, MD, and Bowling are working toward spreading awareness throughout the Mountain State by informing the population, including families, to teach their children healthy lifestyles so they have the knowledge early on. Bowling said the earlier you start doing the things you need to do to prevent heart disease, the less likely you are to have an event.
“The best way to maintain is regular 20-30 minute exercises. It doesn’t have to be vigorous running. It can be as much as a brisk walking after meals. Another is to eat those 3-5 vegetable portions a day, especially fiber,” said Gupta.
Gupta said cardiovascular disease can exist at any age, so it’s important to stay active to prevent a number of diseases.