Statistics about Heart Disease Discussed Here

According to the statistics about heart disease published in 2006 by the Center for Disease Control, 24.7 million adults have been diagnosed with heart disease. This figure is equivalent to 11.5% of the American adult population.

Reversing heart disease may not be possible in all cases, but according to the American Heart Association, most people with cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, can live full and enjoyable lives, with the right treatment and attention to lifestyle.

The CDC is only one agency that publishes statistics about heart disease. "Diseases of the heart" is listed as the number one cause of death in the United States. It is important to remember that this figure includes all deaths caused by all of the different diseases of the heart, not just coronary artery disease, which is a narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart.

For simplicity's sake, the National Vital Statistics Report, which is responsible for publishing these statistics about heart disease deaths, does not include subcategories in this report. It is impossible to tell how many of these deaths (654,092 in 2004) were caused by coronary artery disease, heart failure or another disease affecting the heart.

Also known as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease is the focus of some research concerning reversing heart disease.

According to the Health Center at the University of Texas, noninvasive positron emission tomography, a technology developed by Dr. K. Lance Gould allows doctors to see where heart blood flow has been restricted by early cholesterol buildup in the arteries, with greater accuracy than previous technologies, including the stress test.

A treatment program can be designed for the individual to remove the cholesterol from the artery wall, thus reversing heart disease processes. Reversing heart disease takes time, typically 18-24 months and there is some remaining risk of heart attack during this time, but the doctors and researchers at UT believe that treatment can be quite effective. Dietary and lifestyle changes will still be necessary to prevent additional cholesterol build-up, however.

According to statistics about heart disease published by the American Heart Association, 5 million Americans are living with heart failure and approximately 500,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Coronary artery disease and heart failure are not the same conditions, but untreated coronary artery disease can lead to heart failure. These and other statistics about heart disease indicate that coronary artery disease leads to heart failure about 20% of the time, which is distressing, since the latest technology can be effective at reversing heart disease and preventing its progression to heart failure.

Some doctors and researchers believe that coronary artery disease and many other diseases can be linked to inflammatory responses within the body. Being overweight can cause inflammation all over the body. Improper diet can lead to inflammation. Type II or adult onset diabetes, one of the many risk factors for heart disease, is believed to be linked to inflammation. All of this research supports the importance of proper diet, regular exercise and weight control.

Some researchers have reached the conclusion that natural anti-inflammatories may be safer and more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs, because natural anti-inflammatories target a number of inflammatory responses, while synthetic anti-inflammatories may target only a single inflammatory molecule.

The mangosteen -- an exotic fruit from Southeast Asia, not to be confused with the common mango -- has been shown in scientific research to contain a very potent anti-inflammatory, a Cox-2 inhibitor, as well as numerous vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that can prevent blood clots; reduce bad cholesterol and support overall function of the heart.

Patient reports indicate that it helps control diabetes; lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the need for insulin. Mangosteen products may also help those who need to get up and take a walk, by increasing energy and improving blood flow. There is no magic health elixir for preventing or reversing heart disease, but mangosteen may help.

The statistics for heart disease may be depressing, but even more depressing is the fact that 66.3% of all Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, another risk factor for developing heart disease.