WVU in the News: Study reveals that nearly half of Americans have cardiovascular disease

An American heart study reveals that nearly half of all adult Americans have cardiovascular disease.

This is according to the latest statistics provided by the American Heart Association.

The latest guidelines for defining high blood pressure have been reduced from 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg, which now qualifies many Americans as having high blood pressure. 

The Chief of Cardiology from the WVU Medicine Heart and Vascular Institutue says 48% of the population classifies for risk factors of underlying cardiovascular disease at a sub clinical level or is already manifesting in some form of heart disease. 

"This is clearly a call to understand your risk and if you have some risk factors, like smoking, diabetes, hypertension. Attend to them, and then adapt the healthier lifestyle, including exercise and good food habits, will go a long way towards sustaining a healthy lifestyle," said Partho Sengupta, Chief of Cardiology at the WVU Medicine Heart and Vascular institute. 

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