The Heart Crisis No One’s Talking About

Ready for some good news? Heart attack deaths in the U.S. have dropped over the past 50 years.

In fact, a new study found they’ve plummeted nearly 90 percent since 1970. That’s nothing short of remarkable.

We have decades of antismoking campaigns, faster emergency care, better hospital treatments, and widespread use of stents to thank.

But before you breathe a sigh of relief, there’s a twist…

While fewer people are dying from heart attacks, deaths from other types of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are actually climbing—and fast.

Since 1970…

• Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) deaths are up over 400 percent…
• Heart failure deaths have risen nearly 150 percent…
• And hypertension-related heart diseases have doubled.

This is the part you won’t hear on the evening news. We’ve gotten much better at saving people’s lives in an emergency—but we’re not doing nearly enough to manage their chronic heart disease.

That’s because more Americans than ever are living with the conditions that feed cardiovascular disease: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation. Add an aging population to the mix, and it’s a recipe for long-term trouble.

Too often, treatment stops after the immediate danger has passed. A patient gets a stent or medication, leaves the hospital, and is told to “follow up with your doctor.” But unless the root causes are addressed, the underlying disease continues to progress.

The truth is, heart health isn’t a one-and-done event—it’s a lifelong process.

And you have far more control over how it progresses than you may think. Here are some research-backed steps you can take to lower your long-term risk:

• Feed your heart with REAL food. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, leafy greens, berries, wild-caught fish, olive oil, and nuts has been shown to reduce CVD risk. Minimize processed foods, excess sugar, and refined carbs.

• Move every day. You don’t need to run marathons. Walking briskly for 30 minutes a day, gardening, or light strength training can significantly lower heart disease risk.

• Support your heart naturally. Supplements like CoQ10, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids support heart muscle function and reduce inflammation. (Always check with your doctor before starting new supplements.)

We’ve made huge strides in treating heart attacks. But the real battle now is preventing the slow, silent progression of heart disease before it claims more lives.

Your best defense? Commit to daily habits that nourish your heart—for life.

P.S. The sleep fix that stops heart disease in its tracks.

View Sources

Sara J. King, MD, et al., Heart Disease Mortality in the United States, 1970 to 2022, Journal of the American Heart Association, Volume 14, Number 13, DOI:10.1161/JAHA.124.038644