Oak Hill, W. Va. (WOAY)- One in three women die from cardiovascular disease. According to the Director of Cardiovascular Services at CAMC, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in West Virginia.
“It’s very common. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women across the board,” said Elie Gharib, MD. “Women do have some particular risk factors that differ from men.”
So, what exactly is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is a broad term that includes several conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. This includes coronary artery disease, which involves blockages in the heart and can lead to heart attacks. It also includes diseases of the blood vessels throughout the body, such as stroke and peripheral arterial disease. High blood pressure and hypertension are also considered part of cardiovascular disease.
We asked Dr. Gharib about risk factors, and he says some of the most common include family history.
“There are many other risk factors that can often be controlled,” he said. “These include tobacco use, diabetes that is poorly controlled, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.”
Dr. Gharib says West Virginia continues to see some of the highest rates of cardiovascular related deaths in the country.
“Unfortunately, West Virginia is number one in the nation for deaths from cardiovascular disease. As an Appalachian region, we are above the national average by nearly forty percent,” he said.
Doctors say there are several lifestyle habits people should be mindful of, including soda consumption, especially diet soda, vaping, smoking of all kinds, diet choices, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping regular appointments with a health care provider.
Health experts encourage people to take preventative steps now and speak with their doctor about their individual risk factors.
