Editor’s Note - February 2015

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cardiovascular disease—including heart disease, stroke, and blood pressure—is the top killer of women and men in the United States. Yet, heart disease is preventable. 

The statistics show that the number of preventable deaths in people age 65 to 74 years has declined, but remains the same in people under the age of 65.¹ Men continue to be twice as likely as women to die from preventable cardiovascular disease.² 

Primary care practitioners are often the first to detect cardiovascular disease and can offer strategies for better heart health, including monitoring blood pressure, checking cholesterol, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly.

In honor of American Heart Month, Consultant360 has highlighted several recent studies:

• Inappropriate aspirin therapy. A new study found that 1 in 10 patients without cardiovascular disease receive aspirin as an inappropriate method for primary care prevention.³

• Prolonged sitting increases all-cause mortality. Researchers found that while higher levels of physical activity were associated with less pronounced risks, even high levels of exercise do not eliminate the risks of a sedentary lifestyle.⁴ 

• Beetroot juice may reduce blood pressure. Patients with high blood pressure who consume 250 mL of beetroot juice reported an average decrease of 8/4 mm Hg in blood pressure.⁵

• Adding grains to diet can reduce cardiovascular risk. Researchers found that eating more whole grains could reduce total mortality risk, especially deaths related to cardiovascular disease.⁶

Visit the Acute Coronary Syndrome and Cardiometabolic Risk Syndrome Medical Resource Centers on Consultant360.com to read these articles and much more.  And join us for a live discussion at the upcoming 2015 Cardiometabolic Risk Summit conferences. Register today at www.primarycarecardiometabolic.com.

Sincerely,

Pooja Shah

Managing Editor, Consultant and Consultant360

References:

1. CDC. Heart disease facts. www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm. Updated October 29, 2014. Accessed January 2015.

2. CDC. New CDC Vital Signs: CDC finds 200,000 heart disease and stroke deaths could be prevented.
www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2013/dpk-vs-heart-disease.html. Updated December 18, 2013. Accessed January 2015.

3. Canales M. 1 in 10 patients receiving inappropriate aspirin therapy. Consultant360. 2015 Jan 13. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/aspirin-does-more-harm-good-patients-without-cvd. Accessed January 15, 2015.

4. Canales M. Prolonged sitting associated with higher all-casue mortality rates. Consultant360. 2015 Jan 20. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/exercise-does-not-eliminate-risks-sedentary-lifestyle. Accessed January 21, 2015. 

5. Canales M. A daily cup of beetroot juice may significantly reduce blood pressure. Consultant360. 2015 Jan 20. www.consultant360.com/exclusives/daily-cup-beetroot-juice-may-significantly-reduce-blood-pressure.
Accessed January 21, 2015. 

6. McGraw M. Could eating more grains reduce cardiovascular risk? Consultant360. 2015 Jan 9.
www.consultant360.com/exclusives/could-eating-more-grains-reduce-cardiovascular-risk.
Accessed January 10, 2015.