With the constant barrage of drug advertisements, it’s easy to overestimate the prevalence of certain health conditions. Public awareness campaigns for breast, prostate, colon, and skin cancer often highlight the need for regular screenings, while ads for blood glucose monitors can make type 2 diabetes seem more ubiquitous than it truly is.
While many of these conditions can greatly impact health and well-being, only a few are life-threatening. You might not see as many awareness campaigns for the leading cause of death worldwide — heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths. It’s no wonder it’s also the top cause of death in New York state. (Here are the warning signs of heart disease you should never ignore.)
The National Center for Health Statistics, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that in 2022, 159 out of every 100,000 New Yorkers succumbed to heart disease. Following closely are cancer, COVID-19, accidents, and stroke as leading causes of death.
Risk factors of heart disease in New York State
Heart disease risk factors vary across New York counties. As per the CDC, Hamilton, Fulton, and Lewis Counties exhibit some of the highest rates of high cholesterol, while Tompkins County shows the lowest at approximately 28%, followed by Livingston and the Bronx. Diabetes is another factor influencing heart disease risk. Putnam, New York, and Saratoga Counties report the lowest diabetes prevalence, with under 7% of residents diagnosed. Conversely, over 12% of residents in the Bronx, Orleans, and Franklin Counties have diabetes.
Obesity is another critical risk factor. New York County (Manhattan) boasts the state’s lowest obesity rate, at just under 19%. In contrast, Franklin, Cattaraugus, and Lewis Counties report nearly double that rate. Physical activity is vital for heart disease prevention, yet almost 30% of Bronx County residents are inactive. In Tompkins County, that number drops to 12.4%. Smoking, another significant risk factor, varies widely across the state. In New York, Nassau, and Westchester Counties, smoking rates are at or below 11%. Meanwhile, more than 22% of residents in Franklin and Fulton Counties are smokers.
What New York is doing to prevent chronic diseases
The New York Department of Health has developed a 4-pronged strategy to help reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. The first focus area is promoting a healthy diet. New York has initiated programs to encourage residents to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and increase fruit and vegetable intake.
The second focus is on increasing the number of New Yorkers who engage in regular physical activity and encouraging adherence to physical activity guidelines. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate (or 75 minutes of vigorous) aerobic exercise each week, with added heart-health benefits from 300 minutes. Additionally, strength-training exercises are encouraged twice a week.
New York has also implemented interventions to reduce smoking, such as regulating tobacco companies, offering smoking cessation resources, and establishing more smoke-free environments. Lastly, New York emphasizes the importance of regular health screenings for obesity, high blood pressure, and blood sugar to detect and manage these heart disease risk factors.
