FEBRUARY 2025 heart month   

Did you know CDC data shows Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. One person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. In 2022, 702,880 people died from heart disease. That's the equivalent of 1 in every 5 deaths. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. It killed 371,506 people in 2022. About 1 in 20 adults age 20 and older have CAD (about 5%). In 2022, about 1 out of every 5 deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) was among adults younger than 65 years old.

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Approximately 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year. Of these, around 605,000 are a first heart attack and 200,000 happen to people who already had one. People experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD over a long period of time may experience physiologic effects on the body and increasing physiologic effects that can lead to calcium buildup in the arteries, metabolic disease, and heart disease. This includes people with disabilities and family caregivers. 

Heart Month | Mountain Lifeworks

Heart Disease and Mental Health | CDC

Heart Disease Facts | CDC

Coffee with a Cause  february 2025     

In Colorado people with disabilities experience heart disease and depression at 3X the rate of those with no disability. Depression and heart disease have overlapping symptoms like fatigue, low energy, and difficulty sleeping. Data shows mental health disorders such as depression can develop after cardiac events, including heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. These disorders can occur as a result of factors including pain, fear of death, disability, financial problems and can even lead to suicide.

Individuals recovering from a heart attack and cardiac events require both physical and mental health support systems. When uncertainty and anxiety become debilitating and interfere with daily life functions, then the process of rehabilitation and recovery after a heart attack or other cardiac event may need to include mental health support and treatment for depression. These include cardiac rehabilitation, social groups, and specialized evaluation and treatment by mental health and social workers.

U.S. State Profile Data | Disability and Health Data System | CDC

Depression and Heart Disease | Mental Health America

Coffee with a Cause  february 2025  

More than 356,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and about 60% to 80% of them die before reaching the hospital. Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Blood stops flowing to the rest of the body. People at highest risk for cardiac arrest are older adults and men.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest | Heart Disease | CDC

It’s natural to withdraw and lose social confidence after a heart attack. According to some studies social engagement helps recovery. Studies indicate returning to normal activity and seeing the progress of other people recovering from a heart attack can significantly improve mood and confidence. The need to address other physical conditions can make cardiac rehabilitation especially useful, and it can help improve strength and mobility for performing daily tasks. Studies found cardiac rehabilitation decreases the chances of death in the 5 years following a heart attack or bypass surgery by about 35%.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Can Help Heal Your Heart | CDC

Cardiac rehabilitation has many health benefits in both the short and long term, including: strengthening the heart and body after a heart attack, and relieve symptoms, such as chest pain. It helps build healthy habits such as getting more physical activity, quitting smoking, and eating a heart-healthy diet. Cardiac rehab can a person recover from a heart problem, reduce stress, address depression and prevent future heart problems. Studies found cardiac rehabilitation helps men and women, people of all ages, and people with mild, moderate, and severe heart problems.

Remember a balanced approach uses verified data to identify problems and to propose actionable solutions. Only those willing to have difficult conversations can solve difficult problems. The first step to solving any problem is accepting the data indicating a problem... not blaming the messenger or method of delivery.

So join us for Coffee with a Cause and let's keep the conversation going each month with more data and actionable real life solutions!