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But according to the
"Boomer Coalition Reality Check: When Boomer Optimism Becomes
Denial," a new survey conducted by RoperASW on behalf of the
Boomer Coalition and the American Heart Association, today's
baby boomers in the U.S. have a high awareness of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) but by and large are not taking
the necessary steps to combat this disease.
Women At Higher Risk
More women than men die of
cardiovascular disease in the United States each year.
In fact, cardiovascular disease is responsible for
twice as many deaths in women than all other forms of
cancer combined. Mayo Clinic offers strategies women
can adopt at any age to help prevent heart problems in
the future. For complete information visit:
The Mayo Clinic |
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While nearly all respondents
understand that CVD is a "silent killer" that can
occur without warning, 63 percent of respondents were
found to be overweight or obese. In addition, while 89
percent understand that having high blood pressure and
high cholesterol greatly increases the risk of heart
attack or stroke, a majority were oblivious to their
own levels.
The 76 million people born between the years 1946 and
1964 are known as the "baby boomer" generation. Within
this group nearly 13 million people between the ages
of 45 and 54 have some form of CVD, according to the
American Heart Association. "CVD is the leading cause
of death in America and the tidal wave of baby boomers
are especially at risk as they age," said Coletta C.
Barrett, R.N., MHA, FAHA, American Heart Association
chairman and vice president of policy development and
research for Louisiana Hospital Association in Baton
Rouge. |
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"It's apparent that the
risks from untreated CVD could lead to a medical epidemic --
and healthcare crisis -- in the not-too- distant future."
"People need to be reminded just how preventable CVD can be,
which is why the Boomer Coalition was formed -- to help baby
boomers take action against a disease that if left unchecked
will decimate their age group," said Stephen E. Nissen, MD,
Boomer Coalition medical spokesperson, Cleveland Clinic
cardiologist and incoming vice president of the American
College of Cardiology.
Baby Boomers --
Health Meets Activism?
According to the Boomer Coalition Reality Check, a majority of
baby boomers feel that the social climate of the 1960s had a
long-lasting effect on their lifestyles, beliefs and
attitudes. The majority of boomers think back on their youth
as a time when people would stand up for what they believed
(90 percent) and would seek change. Three-quarters of survey
respondents felt that one person could make a difference in
making the world a better place. This embrace of activism and
change, however, has not caused boomers to make personal
health changes a priority in their lives.
Nearly half of the survey respondents expect to suffer a heart
attack or stroke in their lifetimes, 95 percent understand
that CVD is a "silent killer," and a majority of boomers
recognize that CVD is caused by high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. While they apparently understand the risks:
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73 percent feel they could be
doing even more to live healthfully:
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Only 47 percent eat a healthy diet
each day
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Only 55 percent exercise more than
three-times each week
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Perhaps most telling, 76 percent
claimed to be maintaining a healthy weight, but 63 percent of
respondents were found to be overweight to obese (among
African-Americans the disconnect was even higher, with 71
percent claiming to maintain a healthy weight, while 80
percent are actually overweight or obese)
Optimism: Another
Word for Denial
A large majority (89 percent) of Boomer respondents are
optimistic that they will have a healthy future and nearly all
(97 percent) look forward to an active lifestyle in
retirement. This optimism is belied, however, by the way many
baby boomers actually live -- and choose to ignore potential
health problems.
"The Baby Boomer generation is the first to grow up in today's
fast-food culture," said Clyde Yancy, MD, American Heart
Association board member and Associate Professor of
Medicine/Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern. "As a
result, they are more overweight than any previous generation,
plus they are more apt to look for quick and easy solutions to
their problems and issues. Unfortunately this outlook spills
over onto health issues. Luckily many of the actions that can
be taken to minimize the risks of CVD are very simple."
According to the American Heart Association, baby boomers need
to take the following actions to help bring CVD under control:
1.
Check your blood
pressure -- Have your blood pressure checked at
least every two years, if it's less than 130/85 mm Hg. If it's
above 130/85, have it checked annually or according to your
doctor's recommendations.
2. Keep tabs on
cholesterol -- Ask your doctor to check your level
of blood cholesterol. Your total cholesterol should be below
200 mg/dL and your HDL (good) cholesterol should be 40 mg/dL
or higher. Note: Risk of death from CVD more than doubles when
you have both high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
3. Know your
glucose level -- People with diabetes are two to
four times more likely to develop CVD.
4. Don't use
tobacco -- It's the number one preventable cause of
CVD.
5. Be physically
active -- Physical activity can build endurance,
control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and aid in
weight control.
6. Eat healthy
foods -- Foods high in saturated fat and
cholesterol contribute to atherosclerosis, a primary cause of
heart attack and stroke. Consuming too much salt (sodium) can
also cause high blood pressure in some people.
7. Watch your
weight -- Obesity is a major risk factor for CVD.
8. Avoid excessive
alcohol intake -- One or two drinks a day may help
increase "good" HDL cholesterol, but heavy drinking can
contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
The Inspiration to
Take Action
When asked why their generation is not being more proactive
about combating CVD, just over one-third blamed a lack of
awareness of the problem, while nearly 70 percent thought the
generation was simply "in denial." When questioned about their
own reasons for not doing more to live a healthy life, 56
percent cited "lack of time" and 48 percent blamed the
difficulty of staying with a program.
After hearing the facts about heart attacks and stroke, 74
percent of respondents reported that they were moved to live a
more heart-healthy lifestyle, 63 percent said they would alert
friends to the risk of the "silent killer", 57 percent said
they would learn more about CVD and 50 percent said they would
visit their doctor. African-Americans were even more
enthusiastic than the general population about taking action
against the disease, with 89 percent saying that they would
live a more heart-healthy lifestyle and 80 percent saying they
would alert their friends about the threat of CVD.
Methodology: The "Boomer Coalition Reality Check: When Boomer
Optimism Becomes Denial" survey was conducted via telephone
interviews in January 2004. The survey included a national
cross-section of 761 adults born in the years 1946 to 1964. It
was conducted by RoperASW and has an error margin of
plus/minus 4 percentage points for the general population and
plus/minus 7 percentage points for the African-American
sample.
Sources: American Heart Association,
Boomer Coalition
Funding was provided by Pfizer Inc as part of their
contribution and support of the Boomer Coalition.
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