When it comes to men’s health and longevity, there is simply no greater issue than heart disease. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, killing more than 380,000 men – about 1 in every 4 male deaths.
The umbrella term heart disease can refer to many types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and heart attack. Coronary artery disease involves a buildup or plaque in the arteries of the heart, limiting the flow of blood back to the heart muscle. While there could be symptoms including chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath, there are often no symptoms at all. In fact, nearly half of all men who die suddenly from coronary disease had no prior symptoms.
When preventing or treating coronary artery disease, there are a number of proactive lifestyle strategies men and women alike can take to keep their hearts healthy. But when coronary artery disease or its primary risk factors become apparent, there are a battery of medications that can help, including statins, anticoagulants and beta blockers. But their success in preventing serious coronary events, including heart attack, is far from guaranteed.
Your genetics play a significant role in which medications are best for you, and which will work at all. For clopidogrel (one of the most commonly prescribed medications to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke) the failure rate sits at nearly 30 percent with some studies listing it at over 40%. The answer for personalized prescribing lies in the science of pharmacogenomics (PGx).
When it comes time for medication therapy to prevent or treat coronary artery disease, the ExactMeds personalized medication service harnesses the power of pharmacogenomics and can tell you what medications will work best for you, and which will not. ExactMeds will help you and your physician make a plan that’s best for you and your heart, and helps you live your healthiest, and longest, life. Learn more at www.exactmeds.com.
If you’re looking to keep your heart as healthy as can be throughout your life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists several risks to be aware of and strategies for reducing heart disease at https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/men.htm including:
What are the risks for heart disease?
In 2013–2016 47% of men had hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including:
How can I reduce my risk of heart disease?
To reduce your chances of getting heart disease, it’s important to do the following:
