By Daniel Smith, Keystone State News Connection
October is Health Literacy Month, and medical professionals are educating Pennsylvanians about heart inflammation. Heart inflammation can lead to serious cardiac events if untreated.
The age-adjusted death rate for heart disease in 2021 was 180 deaths per 100,000 Pennsylvania residents.
Dr. Philip Nimoyten, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical School and Philadelphia Cardiology Consultant, said recent medical research has discovered new preventative measures and treatments for heart attacks, the leading cause of death in the United States. Added within the past year. , new drugs are now available that directly target inflammation in the heart, significantly reducing the risk.
“This drug is a low-dose colchicine, sold under the name Rodco, and has been shown to be able to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death in individuals with coronary artery disease or multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease. ” Nimoitin outlined.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the three main risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking, and nearly half of Americans have at least one of these conditions.
Nimotin stressed the importance of maintaining heart health, including avoiding intestinal problems through a healthy diet. He added that the gut is home to the gut microbiome, a population of microorganisms.
“It is estimated that there are 10 trillion microorganisms in the gut, and they produce 10% of the body’s chemicals, called metabolites,” Nimoitin explained. “The types of bacteria that grow are influenced by what you eat. So if you eat beef, for example, you’ll increase the growth of bacteria that release inflammatory metabolites.”
He added that new treatments have led to a significant 31% increase in demand for coronary revascularization procedures such as stenting and bypass surgery. He encouraged Pennsylvania to start screening for heart disease early in life, especially if there is a family history.
