Heart disease affects nearly everyone worldwide, and the American Heart Association has joined with the World Heart Federation to recognize World Heart Day.
The theme for this year's World Heart Day, which is today, is "Use Heart to Save Lives," and a local cardiologist is glad to see the recognition of the dangers of heart disease.
"It's a day to create awareness," Dr. Jason Pelton, a cardiologist with CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, said.
"Heart disease doesn't discriminate. It hits everybody at some point or another. It doesn't matter where you're from, where you live -- it impacts all of us. So it's just a way to create a worldwide awareness of heart disease," he said.
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"It is still the number one killer of both men and women, and so it's just really important to get educated and inform people of how to screen, how to treat, warning signs, symptoms, so that we can live healthier, live longer and be better versions of ourselves."
While some risk factors for heart disease cannot be avoided, Pelton said there are many ways to help reduce the chance of developing heart disease. One of the top ways is being active.
"We live in a beautiful state," he said. "We've got decent weather a lot of the time. We've got mountains, we've got trails, we've got creeks, rivers, lakes. I mean, there are all sorts of things you can do outdoors. We've got a lot of golf courses. There are a lot of golfers in Hot Springs and in the Village, so just be active. Do what you can physically. Every little bit counts."
The American Heart Association recommends "at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week (which) can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease," according to a news release.
Another thing Pelton suggested is adjusting your diet to eat lean meats and "low carb, low sugar, not processed natural foods."
"Unfortunately, the foods that are the cheapest, typically, are the unhealthiest," he said. "They're ultra-processed. They're not nutritious -- a lot of sugars, a lot of salt. So just being mindful of things that we're putting in our bodies to fuel us. A lot of those things, unfortunately, are not very good for us."
One of the most common issues Pelton sees at the hospital is atrial fibrillation.
"It's an irregular heartbeat that can lead to strokes, can lead to congestive heart failure," he said.
"I feel like that's probably the number one thing I see on a day-to-day basis, and a lot of it's unrecognized. People find out incidentally. They go to their doctor or maybe their blood pressure machine at home says irregular heartbeat or something like that. Or maybe they just feel fatigued and tired."
Coronary artery disease is another common issue.
"They seem to be getting younger every year -- people in their 40s, 30s, even a lot of them 50s," Pelton said. "So it's not just an old person disease anymore. It's affecting people younger and younger. And it kind of goes back to the inactivity and the poor diet that, unfortunately, is so prevalent everywhere, especially in Arkansas and a lot of states."
The American Heart Association also encourages people to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation, get flu vaccines and understand the statistics of heart disease.
"Immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chances of survival during cardiac arrest," the organization said in the release.
"The Association offers resources and training to help you learn this lifesaving skill. Protecting yourself from the flu can reduce the risk of heart complications. The flu vaccine is especially important for those with existing heart conditions," it said.
Cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 17.9 million deaths worldwide each year, according to the American Heart Association. In the U.S., "one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease."