There are an estimated 200,000 preventable deaths in the U.S from heart disease and stroke every year .
About one in three of all U.S. deaths are caused by stroke or heart problems, and a good chunk of these fatalities could have been prevented, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) press release reported.
Over half of the 200,000 preventable deaths in the U.S. were in people under the age of 65, and African Americans were nearly twice as likely to fall fatal to the lifestyle-related medical emergencies. People living in the south were also more likely to die from heat disease or stroke.
Simple lifestyle changes such as taking care of diabetes and high-blood pressure, quitting smoking, getting more exercise, and reducing salt intake could seriously cut down this number.
To make the statistic drop even further, medical professionals could: use electronic records to monitor what lifestyle changes could reduce patients' risk of stroke and heart disease, refer patients to resources such as smoking quitlines and groups, and "track patient progress on the ABCS of heart health-Aspirin when appropriate, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation," the press release reported.
A "new way" of doing healthcare signed into play by President Obama in 2010 could help reduce some of the high preventable-death rates, Reuters reported.
"Beginning in October, the health insurance marketplaces will provide a new way for people to get health insurance so more patients have access to quality health insurance and coverage beginning as early as January 2014," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said, Reuters reported.
The health initiative is projected to provide healthcare to seven million uninsured Americans by the end of next year. Many republicans in Congress oppose the new healthcare law because they worry it puts too much "financial burden on consumers and state governments," Reuters reported.
