For National Men’s Health Awareness Month, we are going to discuss heart disease. Men face a greater risk of heart disease than women. This article will provide statistics about heart disease in men, explain the causes of heart disease, and give some prevention tips.

Heart Disease Statistics

• Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for men in the United States, killing more than 320,000 men each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That breaks down to an astonishing one in every four male deaths.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for most racial groups in the U.S., including African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, and whites, according to the CDC. For Asian American men, heart disease is the second leading cause after cancer.

• Approximately 8.5% of all white men, 7.9% of black men, and 6.3% of Mexican American men have coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

• Half of the men who die suddenly of heart disease had no prior symptoms, according to AHA. Therefore, men may still be at risk for heart disease even if they don’t have any symptoms.

• About 80% of sudden cardiac events happen to men, according to the AHA.

• On average, the first myocardial infarction, or heart attack, strikes men at age 65, while the average age of a first heart attack in women is 72, according to Harvard Medical School. A heart attack is typically the most common manifestation of heart disease.

• Heart disease is the the leading cause of death for both men and women. According to Harvard Medical School, since 1984, more women have died of heart disease than men each year, but this is partly because women generally live longer than men.

• While it is not clear why middle-aged males have more heart attacks than females in the same age group, unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, which men do at higher rates, may be partly to blame. 

• Men typically develop heart disease at a younger age and have a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than women. Women, on the other hand, are at a greater risk of stroke, which often occurs at older age.

• According to the AHA, this year an estimated 720,000 Americans will have a new coronary event (defined as a first hospitalized heart attack or coronary heart disease, or CHD, death. While CHD mortality rates decreased by 34.4% from 2005 to 2015, race disparities are expected to persist. Median survival of those 45 years or older after their first heart attack is 8.4 years for white males, 5.6 years for white females, 7.0 years for black males, and 5.5 years for black females. Having a lower education and income level is associated with a higher incidence of CHD.

What Causes Heart Disease?

Heart disease occurs in men and women when plaque, a waxy substance composed of cholesterol, minerals, and fatty molecules, develops in the arteries that lead to the heart. The plaque blocks vital nutrients and oxygen from reaching your heart. Plaque gradually accumulates when the inner lining of an artery gets damaged. This damage can be due to factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, triglycerides, and smoking.

Heart Disease Prevention Tips

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following seven strategies for helping prevent heart disease:

1. Don’t smoke
2. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
3. Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans
4. Keep your weight in check
5. Get a good night’s sleep
6. Manage stress
7. Check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly

Improving Heart Health

Another way to reduce your chance of heart disease is to take Natural Bio Health’s Cardio Support dietary supplement. Cardio Support maximizes the methylation cycle, an important biochemical pathway that regulates many critical bodily functions. Promoting optimal methylation through better nutrition is a vital part of maintaining heart health and protecting cellular function.