Preventative Cardiology
 Since 1900 Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been the No. 1 killer in the United States every year but 1918. Nearly 2,600 Americans die of CVD each day with an average of 1 death every 34 seconds.
25 percent of men and 38 percent of women will die within 1 year after having their initial heart attack. Most women have heart attacks at an older age and are more likely to die within a few weeks. Almost half of the men and women under age 65 who have a heart attack die within 8 years. For someone who has had a heart attack the risk of another heart attack, sudden death, angina, heart failure, and stroke is substantial.
Data from a recent study showed that young women and men, ages 18 to 24 had poor health profiles and experienced adverse changes from 1990 to 2000. these young people had the highest prevalence of smoking, the largest increase in smoking, and major increases in obesity. The prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity has increased in people 18 years and older. All age groups have high levels of sedentary behavior (lack of exercise) and low vegetable and fruit intake.
Preventive Cardiology focuses on identifying cardiac risk factors early and taking steps to eliminate or decrease those risks before a cardiac event occurs. Such actions can prevent sudden death, a heart attack, stroke, and complications. Tchefuncte Cardiovascular Associates (TCA) has become committed to Preventive Cardiology. We would rather prevent a heart attack than treat it.
Decades of research have identified certain risk factors that are associated with a higher incidence of cardiac events, such as a heart attack. These risk factors include:
 Cigarette Smoking- Chewing tobacco
- High Blood Cholesterol and Other Lipids (Fats)
- Low Good Cholesterol (HDL)
- High Blood Pressure
- Physical Inactivity
- Overweight and Obesity
- Diabetes
- Metabolic Syndrome
The more risk factors one has, the greater your chance of having a cardiac event.
The majority of adults in the United States have these risk factors, with an increased frequency in Louisiana. TCA encourages all adults to be aware of their risk factors and seek professional medical help to remedy them. If you don't know whether you have these risks, find out.
According to the American Heart Association, only 13 percent of women consider Cardiovascular Disease their greatest health risk. Yet Cardiovascular Disease causes about a death a minute among females. TCA developed Women's Health Solutions to identify these risk factors in women and to help women make necessary changes in their lifestyle.
More and more of our youth are developing preventable cardiac risk factors, such as high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, overweight, and the metabolic syndrome. Consequently TCA developed an Athletic Screening Program to detect the causes of sudden death in young athletes, as well as these risk factors. TCA works with the coaches and trainers to address these risk factors at an early age.
Participate in the frequent TCA sponsored screenings and educational sessions within the area. See the Calendar for upcoming events.
If you have two or more of the risk factors listed above, make an appointment for further evaluation and risk factor management. Take the necessary steps to decrease your risk for cardiac disease before a cardiac event occurs. Let the TCA team guide those steps with advice on diet, activity, medications, and follow-up.
You may be eligible for a TCA Research study. Some of our studies concentrate on individuals who have not had a cardiac event. The associated medications and clinical tests are at no cost. Occasionally time and travel are reimbursed.
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