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A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member asked a question 💭
Hagerstown, MD

Life expectancy for the richest 1% of Americans is now 10 years higher than for the poorest 1%, researchers said in background notes.

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/03/12/Weal...

Wealthier Americans face lower risk of heart disease - UPI.com
Wealthier Americans face lower risk of heart disease - UPI.com
March 15, 2025
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A MyHeartDiseaseTeam Member

I like every other human have two sides to my family! The poorer side my patriarchy side was not poor by any means but they chose to eat a poor diet and LOTS of it! My Matriarchy side was wealthier than my imagination could understand ate a diet of fruits and vegetables from the local farmers market and very little red meat! Both sides were holy rollers! My Father’s side of the family was plagued by heart disease and Strokes…my Maternal side had only one heart problem a leaky myocardial valve that Granny had since birth! So there you have it! Wealthy wins every time! My maternal grandmother lived a normal life both before and after her valve was replaced and lived to the ripe old age of 82! My Paternal grandmother had a blockage in her carotid artery that caused her to spend the last TEN years of her life in a vegetative state in a Nursing home and died of a cold at 72! Take from this what you will but it is my story and I am sticking to it! I’m 66 now and they have found no valve problems no CAD but a gnarly case of Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy that has led to left sided heart failure Stage 3! I bought a new mattress a few months back and asked the store owner if it would last 10 years or 15. So I have a new mattress with a ten year lifespan! Let’s hope that I don’t outlive it! Nothing could be worse than 10 years in a Vegetative State!!!!

March 15, 2025
MyHeartDiseaseTeam

How does poverty impact heart disease risk? Poverty significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease through multiple pathways. It creates higher levels of mental health strain through increased stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can negatively impact heart health. Additionally, living in poverty Show Full Answer

How does poverty impact heart disease risk? Poverty significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease through multiple pathways. It creates higher levels of mental health strain through increased stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can negatively impact heart health. Additionally, living in poverty makes it more challenging to make heart-healthy lifestyle choices. Limited access to quality healthcare is another major factor that contributes to worse heart disease outcomes among those experiencing poverty. However, research shows that regardless of economic status, following heart-healthy lifestyle practices can help reduce risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and engaging in regular physical activity. Even implementing just three of these four healthy lifestyle factors can lower heart attack risk by up to 46%.

March 15, 2025

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