This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Hi. Dr Dmitry Yaranov, advanced heart failure cardiologist, here, and here’s big news in the cardiology world.
A new study just showed that heart attack deaths in the United States have dropped nearly 90% since 1970. That’s not a typo — 90%. This is one of the greatest public health success stories of the modern era.
It’s thanks to decades of efforts, including antismoking campaigns, better emergency care, widespread use of statins and stents, and a system-wide focus on recognizing and treating heart attacks fast.
Before we celebrate too hard, here is a twist. Deaths from other heart conditions are rising fast. Since 1970, arrhythmia deaths have increased over 400%. Heart failure deaths are up nearly 150%. Hypertension-related heart diseases have doubled.
Why? We’ve gotten better at saving people in the moment, but we’re not doing enough to manage chronic disease. The population is aging. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are more common than ever, and long-term health still doesn’t get the attention or access that it deserves.
Yes, fewer people are dying due to heart attacks, but more are living with chronic cardiovascular disease, and many are still dying from it later.
This is the next frontline. Prevention doesn’t end after you put a stent in or discharge from the hospital. It’s a lifelong process, and we need to treat it the same way.