CDC study looks at cardio health of states and healthy participants



In addition to gauging risk factors among those with healthier hearts, the study looked at disparities between the states.

Maintaining a healthy heart depends on a number of factors, from proper nutrition and exercise to avoiding smoking and excessive drinking. For those who buy Lipitor to manage their cholesterol levels, these measures are known to stave off heart disease. However, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some bad news for the fight against cardiovascular conditions.

Trouble among the healthy
In the study, CDC researchers found that the majority of those considered heart healthy reported missing at least one criterion for cardiovascular well-being. Out of 350,000 heart-disease-free survey participants, only 3 percent could say they weren't running risks such as obesity or high blood pressure.

"Americans reported having on average more than four of the seven risk factors for heart disease," noted Jing Fang, M.D., a CDC epidemiologist. "We also found large disparities by age, sex, race/ethnicity and levels of education."

New geographic findings
In addition to gauging risk factors among those with healthier hearts, the study looked at disparities between the states. The one primary conclusion, which may be tied to other demographic factors, was that a higher percentage of residents of southern states have cardiovascular health problems.

"Disparity continues to exist in cardiovascular health in America," Fang said, "not just by social demographics like race, gender, age and education level, but also by state."

The report placed Oklahoma at the bottom of the cardiovascular well-being list, with only 1.2 percent of the state population considered to have ideal heart health. At the top of the list, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C. had a higher number of residents with all positive heart health factors.

Although the environments of the geographic regions have no direct bearing on cardiovascular well-being, the results of the survey may help identify state-by-state issues and better improve the entire country's heart health.