Heart disease in Canada: what you need to know

In today's world, our hearts are in constant danger — despite decades of advances in every aspect of cardiology (the science of heart health and disease). Each week, it seems, we are informed of new heart risk factors or remedies.

For example, researchers have identified certain genes that may be linked to cases of heart attack in families with a strong history of heart disease. They've also discovered other genes that may increase risk in certain populations or increase the risk of certain underlying tendencies.

Doctors also know more and more about which medications will keep your cholesterol levels low and your blood pressure even, thus reducing your heart attack risk. Plus, the ability of health professionals to help smokers address their tenacious addiction has never been greater.

Every year, more than 70,000 Canadians will have heart attacks. Sadly, more than a quarter of these heart attack victims will die.

Cardiovascular disease remains the single largest cause of death in Canada. It is responsible for roughly one-third of all deaths each year.The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada notes that while deaths from heart disease have decreased 51 percent since 1979, the disease continues to kill 32 percent of men and 34 percent of women in Canada each year — more than three times the number of deaths that both lung cancer and breast cancer cause combined.

A disturbing new trend in Canada is the number of young persons developing heart disease risk factors. Roughly 40 percent of teenage girls are physically inactive, over 30 percent of men and women in their twenties are overweight and Canadian men and women 15 to 29 years old make up the largest proportion of smokers.

How could heart disease be such a problem in 21st-century Canada?

The truth is, despite our knowledge, we treat our hearts with little respect.

A happy, active life will nurture a healthy heart. But the way we live now poses unprecedented threats.

Most people eat too much and exercise too little. Sadly, 20 percent of Canadians remain addicted to nicotine.

Our food choices are often horribly unhealthy, flooding our bodies with the worst types of fats and carbohydrates while starving them of beneficial fats, fibre and antioxidants that are vital to health. And the stress that is so often a part of our lives compels our bodies to cope with abnormally high levels of damaging stress hormones and robs us of essential leisure time for relaxing.

Honestly, that little pump called the heart and, most crucially, the arteries which transport blood around the body, weren't designed for the onslaughts of the 21st century.

The heart muscle itself needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood, delivered via a network of coronary arteries. If a clot blocks an artery, or if the lining of any of these supply lines becomes diseased, causing plaque which constricts the artery, the heart faces an immediate oxygen deficit. This deficit then causes the heart to struggle which can lead to heart attacks and other complications due to heart disease.

Whether you're a Canadian or not, it's important to keep these statistics and information in mind to make you more aware of any lifestyle changes you need to make to keep your heart healthy.