Health Check: The Importance of Heart Health
West Virginia is facing a heart disease crisis, with rates nearly double the national average, affecting nearly every family in the state, according to a local cardiologist.
David Gnegy, a cardiologist with WVU Medicine Camden Clark, describes the prevalence of heart disease in West Virginia as "astonishing" compared to the rest of the United States.
Being in West Virginia, based upon our demographics, the food deserts that we live in, our unhealthy population, heart disease is prevalent,
Gnegy said. The disease accounts for 21% of deaths in the state, driven by multiple risk factors including obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles.
While family history plays a significant role in heart disease risk, Gnegy emphasized that modifiable risk factors offer opportunities for prevention.
Author's summary: Heart disease crisis in West Virginia.