Increase in Hypertension Deaths
More Americans are dying from high blood pressure.
In related news, death rates linked to high blood pressure have increased by 72% in rural areas and 20% in urban U.S. communities, according to another presentation at the Scientific Session. Researchers at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine in Burlington examined nationwide data for more than 10 million deaths between 2007 and 2017.
“Hypertension-related cardiovascular deaths are rising in the U.S. across all age groups, all regions and in both urban and rural populations,” said lead study author Lakshmi Nambiar, MD, cardiovascular disease fellow at the University. “These findings are alarming and warrant further investigation, as well as preventative efforts.” More research is needed to determine the causes and reasons for regional differences. Increasing exercise and improving diet are ways to address hypertension.
The study is available in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2020;doi:10.1016
/j.acc.2020.03.009).
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
