heart health
Big picture: Dr. Puja Upal “It’s a fact. Where you live affects your health.”
In the news: A new study shows that health disparities between more populated and rural areas are widening.A new study provides insight into the incidence of heart failure in rural America.
Key Point: This study provides continuing evidence that cuts to health care access in rural areas have significant impacts on the health and life expectancy of rural populations.
new research shows Rural Americans are at higher risk of developing heart failure. Data show that women (black and white) are at higher risk than women of the same age who live in densely populated areas. More importantly, rural black man 34% higher risk of developing heart failure than your opponent People who live in densely populated areas.
This new study This is important because Tucson’s decline in access to care due to hospital closures and infrastructure shrinkage has been shown to result in rising health inequalities across Arizona.
Did you know that 16.0% of adults in Pima County currently smoke? 29.0% of adults in Pima County are obese.
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doctor’s expert Insights into heart health and heart failure
Know this: “It’s important for men and women to know. signs and symptoms of heart failure. Especially for women, it is important to know that they may experience other symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and difficulty moving. If you live in an area that does not have adequate access to medical care, it is recommended that you work with your doctor or health care team to put in place processes for managing your condition. but must be diagnosed!” Dr. Sherandra Bell, Family Medicine.
Next steps: In Arizona, you may be eligible for cardiac rehabilitation through insurance. The American Heart Association has excellent resources for cardiac rehabilitation. (access here)
Self-Check Plan: American Heart Association
Graphic courtesy of the American Heart Association: Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure.
In Pima County, 5.7% of adults have COPD. 28.0% of adults in Pima County have high blood pressure.
Both of these variables can influence heart failure outcome.
What they say:
“To address this link between rural areas and increased risk of developing heart failure, especially among black men, interventions should focus on primary prevention of heart failure in these high-risk communities.” (study source)
“Among primarily low-income individuals in the southeastern United States, rural areas were associated with increased risk of HF in women and black men, which persisted after adjusting for CV risk factors and SES. It shows that there is a need for further emphasis on the prevention of HF among rural populations.” (Ditto.)
heart failure mortality. County level, United States.
Image courtesy: CDC heart failure.
sauce:
jam cardiology We have published our findings: Association between rural areas and risk of heart failure (read here)
Heart failure statistics: (American Heart Failure Association)
More than 6 million Americans have heart failure.
Nearly 1 in 8 people die from heart failure.
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