During Valentine's Day festivities, it's candy hearts and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate that take center stage. But February is also American Heart Month, a time when national health organizations regularly review and update heart health research.
Here are some key findings to keep in mind this month:
1. Heart disease remains the top killer for both men and women
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year, which accounts for 25 percent of the country's total deaths. Coronary heart disease, the most common variety of the condition, costs the United States an estimated $108.9 billion each year, a figure that incorporates payments for health care services and medications, as well as the economic value of lost productivity.
2. Only 1 in 3 donated hearts are used
New research from the American Journal of Transplantation shows that doctors are likely being too picky when it comes to deciding which donated hearts are viable.
"Donor heart utilization fell to 32 percent in 2010 from 44 percent in 1995," The Chicago Tribune reported, noting that rates varied between geographical regions because of varying standards. Doctors can reject hearts if they feel the donor was too old or suffered from a disease that weakened the organ.
However, the researchers found that many hearts rejected in the U.S. end up being used in successful procedures in Canada, a situation they said illustrates the need for more efficient standards in America. According to the Tribune, more than 20,000 patients await heart transplants each year. But in 2011, only 1,949 transplants were performed.
3. Many people should avoid a daily dose of aspirin
A recent study (paywall) from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology questioned one of the medical community's most common pieces of advice: that people at risk for heart attacks should take a daily dose of aspirin.
The researchers determined that 11 percent of people popping aspirin pills daily shouldn't be, because the risk of complications from regular aspirin consumption outweighs the benefit they're receiving from the drug, The New York Times reported.
According to the researchers, people should only take aspirin daily if their risk of heart problems exceeds 6 percent, a number people can discuss with their doctor or assess online through the National Institutes of Health's risk calculator.
4. Heart-healthy eating can reduce the risk of heart disease
The American Heart Association's diet and lifestyle recommendations for heart health-conscious individuals should sound familiar. The list is heavy on fruits, vegetables and lean meats and light on indulgences like sugar and alcohol, repeating many of the guidelines offered in diets for general audiences.
Although the AHA emphasizes moderation in daily eating, following the recommendations for weekly fish intake will likely feel like going overboard for many people. According to the experts, Americans should eat fish at least twice a week to boost heart health, but fewer than one in five eaters heed that advice, Harvard School of Public Health reports.
Additionally, cholesterol, long considered one of the heart's worst enemies, isn't so bad after all, according to new research. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee announced in December that their organization would not longer warn against eating cholesterol-laden food, The Washington Post reported.
Here are some key findings to keep in mind this month:
1. Heart disease remains the top killer for both men and women
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that around 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year, which accounts for 25 percent of the country's total deaths. Coronary heart disease, the most common variety of the condition, costs the United States an estimated $108.9 billion each year, a figure that incorporates payments for health care services and medications, as well as the economic value of lost productivity.
2. Only 1 in 3 donated hearts are used
New research from the American Journal of Transplantation shows that doctors are likely being too picky when it comes to deciding which donated hearts are viable.
"Donor heart utilization fell to 32 percent in 2010 from 44 percent in 1995," The Chicago Tribune reported, noting that rates varied between geographical regions because of varying standards. Doctors can reject hearts if they feel the donor was too old or suffered from a disease that weakened the organ.
However, the researchers found that many hearts rejected in the U.S. end up being used in successful procedures in Canada, a situation they said illustrates the need for more efficient standards in America. According to the Tribune, more than 20,000 patients await heart transplants each year. But in 2011, only 1,949 transplants were performed.
3. Many people should avoid a daily dose of aspirin
A recent study (paywall) from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology questioned one of the medical community's most common pieces of advice: that people at risk for heart attacks should take a daily dose of aspirin.
The researchers determined that 11 percent of people popping aspirin pills daily shouldn't be, because the risk of complications from regular aspirin consumption outweighs the benefit they're receiving from the drug, The New York Times reported.
According to the researchers, people should only take aspirin daily if their risk of heart problems exceeds 6 percent, a number people can discuss with their doctor or assess online through the National Institutes of Health's risk calculator.
4. Heart-healthy eating can reduce the risk of heart disease
The American Heart Association's diet and lifestyle recommendations for heart health-conscious individuals should sound familiar. The list is heavy on fruits, vegetables and lean meats and light on indulgences like sugar and alcohol, repeating many of the guidelines offered in diets for general audiences.
Although the AHA emphasizes moderation in daily eating, following the recommendations for weekly fish intake will likely feel like going overboard for many people. According to the experts, Americans should eat fish at least twice a week to boost heart health, but fewer than one in five eaters heed that advice, Harvard School of Public Health reports.
Additionally, cholesterol, long considered one of the heart's worst enemies, isn't so bad after all, according to new research. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee announced in December that their organization would not longer warn against eating cholesterol-laden food, The Washington Post reported.
