#HeartMonth: Why is Heart Disease Still the Most Common Cause of Death?

Editor Note: Understanding the importance of this timely topic and to ensure that research is made available to the wider academic community, IGI Global has made a sample of related articles and chapters complimentary to access. View the end of this article to freely access this critical research.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, cardiovascular disease (CVD), or heart disease, continues to be the “most common cause of death in the United States and around the world” even though dying from heart disease has decreased by nearly 70% since World War II. This decrease is attributed to the identification of risk factors such as smoking and diabetes in addition to medical discoveries and improved treatment for heart attack patients. So what is the main factor behind why so many people are still dying from this disease? The answer is wealth.  

In support of the American Heart Month, which brings awareness to heart health and heart disease during the month of February, and recognizing the critical nature of disseminating medical research for continued health improvements for patients across the world, IGI Global publishes the latest research content in these areas, including Theory and Practice of Business Intelligence in Healthcare, edited by Prof. Jiban Khuntia, from the University of Colorado, Denver, USA, et al. This publication is a collection of innovative research that covers topics including digital health, patient empowerment, and more. Below, IGI Global took a dive into the socioeconomic realities of heart disease, how to prevent it, and other factors that weigh in.

Theory and Practice of Business Intelligence in Healthcare Edited by Information Resources Management Association (USA) Copyright: © 2020 | Pages: 322 | ISBN: 9781799823100 | EISBN: 9781799823117 This scholarly publication introduces data mining, modeling, and analytic techniques to health and healthcare data; articulates the value of big volumes of data to health and healthcare; evaluates business intelligence tools; and explores business intelligence use and applications in healthcare...Learn More.

The Socioeconomic Divide of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

According to the article, socioeconomic status is one reason why these medicines are not reaching all who need it, as people with higher income have better access to quality healthcare and are able to better afford medication than those who live in poverty. Furthermore, hospitals and medical corporations make a higher profit off of the treatment of diseases than the prevention of disease. For example, the treatment of a heart attack is more profitable than preventing one. Therefore, more preventive treatment and wider access to healthcare overall are issues to consider when discussing decreasing the rate of people who die from heart disease.

Concerning the day-to-day realities of the situation, more affluent persons are able to participate and live in a way that better prevents heart disease. This can include living in healthier environments and hiring others to take care of activities that may put stress on their health, as they have more disposable income.

Though the socioeconomic divide makes it difficult for those within a lower socioeconomic status to obtain the expensive medications and treatments mentioned previously (due to the predatory nature of the medical/pharmaceutical system), and considering the socioeconomic divide within healthcare and pertaining to heart disease is a complex issue to solve, current research also focuses on common sense alternative options for preventing heart-related diseases, including foods to eat and to avoid, heart-healthy activities, and the impact of cholesterol and blood pressure on heart disease.

The Research on Preventing Heart Disease

Prof. E. William Ebomoyi, from Chicago State University, USA, explores preventative foods and activities for preventing heart disease in his chapter “Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics and the Medicinal Values of Vegetables and Fruits” from the publication Food Science and Nutrition: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice. In his chapter, he explores how phytochemical nutritional applications are known for their “efficacy and control of hypertension and high blood pressure, which is one of the leading pandemic disease and the precursor for the incipient onset of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other nephritic syndromes.”¹ 

Food Science and Nutrition: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice Edited by Information Resources Management Association (USA) Copyright: © 2018 | Pages: 501 | ISBN: 9781522552079 | EISBN: 9781522552086 This innovative reference source contains latest academic material on how dietary nutrition can impact people’s lives, prevent disease, and maintain an overall healthier lifestyle...Learn More.

Furthermore, the chapter discusses five specific food items that can significantly lower blood pressure to reduce the need for blood pressure medications, and these foods include asparagus, hawthorn tea, oatmeal, blueberries, and baked potatoes with margarine butter (depending on how it is prepared). Find an excerpt below explaining the benefits of these foods from the chapter:

1. Asparagus – This vegetable is unique in lowering blood pressure because it is rich in potassium. Nutritionist have identified other foods which are high in potassium to include bananas, citrus fruits, dried apricot, wild salmon fish, whole grain and legumes. Asparagus is a natural diuretic and this give it an extra hypertension-lowering properties.

2. Hawthorn Tea – This tea which is made from the anti-oxidant-rich berries of the hawthorn plant has been reported to be useful in the management of cardiovascular disease such as assisting blood vessels to relax which lowers blood pressure.

3. Oatmeal – This meal has a therapeutic benefit not only in lowering serum cholesterol level but also reduce blood pressure

4. Blueberries are known to be rich in antioxidants which can enhance normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Blueberries contain anthocyanins which are molecules known to open blood vessels, which facilitate blood flow more readily thereby lowering human blood pressure. The fruits and vegetables in Figure 1 have widely used nutrients for human health.

5. Baked potatoes with margarine butter can be helpful in reducing blood pressure depending on how it is prepared. The addition of excessive salt and butter compromises the effectiveness of potatoes as medicinal food against blood pressure disease.

Additionally, the phytochemical nutrients found in broccoli, spinach, oatmeal, and Brussels sprouts can strengthen immune systems and protect the heart from toxins and potentially myocardial infarction, arterial sclerosis, congestive heart diseases, and even death from heart disease.  

Other beneficial foods mentioned in the chapter include tomatoes and yams. On the other hand, foods containing lipids, read meat, and alcohol are items to avoid, as they negatively impact cardiovascular health.

Beyond food consumption, stress contributes to hypertension and can negatively affect heart health. Participating in relaxing activities or reducing contact with stressful events and situations in one’s life can help prevent heart disease. Mild exercise and relaxing activities in addition to activities with people one is close to as well as other “social therapeutic interventions” are helpful in preventing heart disease as well.

In addition to the threat of blood pressure contributing to heart disease, Prof. Yan Li from Cleveland Clinic, USA, et al. state in their chapter “Advancements in Cardiovasculalr Diagnostics” from the publication Emerging Applications, Perspectives, and Discoveries in Cardiovascular Research, “Keeping lower cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of heart disease for everyone.”² 

Emerging Applications, Perspectives, and Discoveries in Cardiovascular Research Edited by Prof. Yan Li (Cleveland Clinic, USA, et al.) Copyright: © 2017 | Pages: 439 | ISBN: 9781522520924 | EISBN: 9781522520931 This is a comprehensive reference source for the latest academic material on the exploration of cardiovascular diseases and provides an interdisciplinary examination of novel developments and applications for cardiovascular sciences...Learn More.

A CNN article from 2019 covers just how “bad” cholesterol can negatively impact heart health and increase risks for heart failure, and this is particularly important to keep in mind and educate youth on this topic, as the article mentions a study that suggests “higher-than-normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels before age 40” increases risks of CVD later on in life. Heart-healthy habits and modes of preventing heart disease, therefore, should start when individuals are young to help make these preventive measures more effective. 

The publications featured in this article, Food Science and Nutrition: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice (ISBN: 9781522552079 | EISBN: 9781522552086), edited by Information Resources Management, USA, and Emerging Applications, Perspectives, and Discoveries in Cardiovascular Research (ISBN: 9781522520924 | EISBN: 9781522520931), edited by Prof. Yan Li from Cleveland Clinic, USA, et al., are currently available both in print and electronic format through IGI Global’s Online Bookstore at a 20% discount, and are featured in IGI Global’s InfoSci®-Books database (5,300+ e-books). Recommend these publications, the InfoSci-Books database, and the InfoSci-Journals database (185+ e-journals) to your library to have access to this critical research as well as thousands of other research resources, including the chapters and articles below.

Featured Publications Surrounding Heart Disease and Health Care

Learn More Recommend to Library Theory and Practice of Business Intelligence in Healthcare Prof. Jiban Khuntia (University of Colorado, Denver, USA), et al. Copyright: © 2020 | Pages: 322 | ISBN: 9781799823100 | EISBN: 9781799823117 This scholarly publication is a collection of innovative research that introduces data mining, modeling, and analytic techniques to health and healthcare data; articulates the value of big volumes of data to health and healthcare; evaluates business intelligence tools; and explores business intelligence use and applications in healthcare. About the Editor: Prof. Jiban Khuntia is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Health Administration at the Business School of the University of Colorado Denver, USA. His research interests are in the areas of health information technology and emerging IT service innovations. His work has appeared in the Journal of Management of Information Systems, Production and Operations Management, and Decision Support Systems, amongst others. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, USA. Before that, he had more than a decade of experience in IT and supercomputing areas.

Learn More Recommend to Library	Healing Through the Arts for Non-Clinical Practitioners Prof. Jenny Bopp (Westtown School, USA), Prof. Amy M. Grebe (Zinnia Consulting and Design, USA), and Prof. Joanna Hope Denny (Pellisippi State Community College, USA) Copyright: © 2019 | Pages: 309 | ISBN: 9781522559818 | EISBN: 9781522559825 This scholarly publication examines and describes arts-based interventions and experiences that support the healing process outside of the medical field. Featuring research on topics such as arts-based interventions and the use of writing, theatre, and embroidery as methods of healing, this book is ideally designed for academicians, non-clinical practitioners, educators, artists, and rehabilitation professionals.

Learn More Recommend to Library	Handbook of Research on Critical Examinations of Neurodegenerative Disorders Prof. Md. Sahab Uddin (Southeast University, Bangladesh) and Prof. Md. Shah Amran (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh) Copyright: © 2019 | Pages: 597 | ISBN: 9781522552826 | EISBN: 9781522552833 This scholarly publication provides an extensive explanation of various neurodegenerative disorders based on existing studies to clarify etiology, pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, as well as current status and future opportunities and challenges.

Learn More Recommend to Library	Electrocardiogram Signal Classification and Machine Learning: Emerging Research and Opportunities Prof. Sara Moein (Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA) Copyright: © 2018 | Pages: 196 | ISBN: 9781522555803 | EISBN: 9781522555810 This scholarly publication examines the importance of automatic normalization and classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of heart disorders. Featuring a wide range of topics such as common heart disorders, particle swarm optimization, and benchmarks functions, this publication is geared toward medical professionals, researchers, professionals, and students seeking current and relevant research on the categorization of ECG signals.

Note from IGI Global’s Senior Director of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Nick Newcomer: As it is National Heart Month, the mission of raising awareness regarding heart disease is near and dear to me as my nephew, Logan J. Slentz, born December 6, 2019, has yet to leave the hospital due to a rare combination of Atrioventricular (AV) Canal Defect and Tetralogy of Fallot. These conditions have left him with a large hole in the center of his heart along with four other defects, including a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, a misplaced aorta, and a thickened right ventricular wall. This little fighter has already experienced cardiac arrest and undergone two open heart surgeries in the short time he has been with us. His third (and hopefully final) procedure will be performed this upcoming May, and we are looking forward to having him home to enjoy the comfort of his crib. We would like to thank the medical professionals at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center who have been providing him care and for those who are dedicated to furthering the research to enhance the treatment of these heart conditions. If you are interested in learning more about Logan’s story or to donate to assist his family in covering the rising medical costs for his treatment, please visit: www.gofundme.com/9ttz8k-help-for-logan.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of IGI Global.

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