How to beat the Illinois stats and prevent a heart attack

When it comes to cardiovascular disease, Illinois residents unfortunately have their fair share. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that in 2021, there were 26,280 deaths in Illinois from heart disease and 6,768 deaths from stroke. That ranks the state 21st of 50 states.

Deaths from heart disease and stroke represented almost 27% of all deaths in Illinois in 2021.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that, on average, someone in the U.S. dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds (or 2,580 deaths each day).

But the numbers don’t mean heart disease is inevitable. You have the power to beat the statistics! 

Make your heart health a priority and cut your risk of cardiovascular disease by incorporating these lifestyle habits.

1. Get to know your family’s heart health history. Having a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) who either developed heart disease before age 55 or died at an early age of sudden cardiac arrest can increase your risk as much as having high cholesterol or diabetes. Try to learn about the heart health of cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents too if possible. The more information you have, the better.
    
2. Ease into exercise. Exercise makes your heart stronger, making it easier for your heart to pump blood through your body. It also lowers your blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol levels (see below), two factors that contribute to heart disease. Staying active also helps regulate your weight and the AHA recommends adults do 150 minutes of “moderately intensive” aerobic exercise each week. If you aren’t active now, talk to your physician about safely starting an exercise routine.
    
3. Quit smoking (and if you don’t smoke, don’t start). Not only is smoking linked to heart disease, it’s also linked to a higher risk of stroke, lung cancer and other chronic diseases. The AHA reports almost a third of coronary heart disease deaths are due to smoking and breathing secondhand smoke. Nicotine can raise your blood pressure, cause a racing heartbeat and narrowing of your arteries. Talk to your physician about how to quit.
    
4. Watch your blood pressure. Keeping tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels is one of the smartest things you can do to keep your heart healthy. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so unless you monitor it you wouldn’t know if it’s high. Cholesterol also causes no symptoms. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, the fatty cholesterol that clogs arteries, and HDL, the cholesterol that helps get rid of LDL. Talk to your physician about your blood pressure and cholesterol and how to keep it in a healthy range.
    
5. See your doctor. Keeping regular checkups with your primary care physician is not only heart-smart, it’s good for your overall wellbeing and health. Annual checkups create a record of your health over time, so your doctor can see if your blood pressure or cholesterol levels change, for example. Your doctor can also recommend lifestyle changes and even medication, if needed, to help keep your heart healthy.
    
6. Lean toward a heart-healthy diet. Sticking with a healthier diet, which allows some indulgences but is mostly healthy overall, will also help keep arteries clear and flexible, which keeps your heart healthier. You’ll also have more energy and likely maintain a healthier weight.