According to a survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, 41% of Americans have had a tryst with minimum one heart issue since the time the pandemic began in the early 2020. Other concerns were mostly related to breath shortness, high blood pressure, dizziness, and pain in chest. In a startling figure, 1 in every 4 American citizens who has contracted COVID-19 has gone on to put on record having heart-health being affected. This survey seconds the UK study suggesting rehospitalisation of acute COVID patients and that they aren’t out of the woods yet.
As we approach the second anniversary of this dreadful pandemic, Americans are beginning to see the consequences of their health habits, which have significantly impacted their heart health. The Cleveland survey was conducted online with a sample size of 1000 adults in the United States over the age of 18. It pushes forward the fact that Americans’ sitting throughout the day has increased while walking in them has steadily declined.
There are a few Americans, 22% to be precise, who feel that the Mediterranean diet is healthy for the heart, and 51% of the country does not follow a diet plan. As per the chairman, cardiovascular medicine from Cleveland Clinic, Samir Kapadia, M.D., fatigue because of COVID-19 is for real, and for the 2022 survey, they have particularly taken into account what effect it has had on America’s health when it comes to the heart, and, in particular, eating habits. He adds that everyone knows that a healthy diet, not smoking, and consistently exercising can prevent 90% heart diseases, and therefore, he suggests it is time to aim the health of the heart as much as possible.
As far as genetics are concerned, the survey says that 40% of the population who lost a member of the family because of a heart ailment before attaining 60 years of age have not been evaluated for any heart-related ailment for which they lost a member to. And this figure jumps to a whopping 54% in the case of millennials. Besides, 34% of Americans feel that if there is a heart ailment history that persists in a family, there’s nothing much that can be done to limit the risk they already have. That said, it is a fact that doesn’t require any math when we say that early screening, diagnosis, and treatment can prevent people from the unknown.
One-third of America still doesn’t know that factors such as stress (35%), obesity (39%), high BP (35%), and smoking (41%), can increase the likelihood of having a heart disease. One positive that can be taken out of the Cleveland survey is that the majority of Americans, 77% of them, are aware of their family history of any heart ailment, and around 65% say that they have had their blood pressure screened over the past six months. Reference – The survey has been conducted under the Love Your Heart campaign, which is being conducted by the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute.
