Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, responsible for one out of every four deaths. On Long Island, we see the effects of heart disease as well, with about one in three deaths caused by heart disease in 2015. In fact, heart disease is so prevalent that in 2016, individuals surveyed from Nassau County considered heart disease and stroke to be their top health concern.
Each year, the Long Island Health Collaborative collects data about the health of communities in Suffolk and Nassau Counties and uses available data sources to produce the Population Health Dashboard. Today, we’re taking a look at how heart disease is impacting Long Island.
According to the New York State Department of Health, over 7,000 Long Islanders died of heart disease in 2015 - 3,944 people in Nassau County and 3,383 people in Suffolk. When looking at hospitalizations, the numbers are even more concerning. On Long Island, over 34,000 people were hospitalized for heart disease complications that year.
A wide variety of risk factors can increase your chances of heart disease, including smoking, low physical activity, and being overweight. The good news is, you can manage these risk factors by improving your healthy habits.
Did you know?
- Individuals who smoke are twice as likely as non-smokers to have a heart attack.
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In 2014, it was reported that 21% of adults in Nassau County and 28% of adults in Suffolk County were obese. Obesity increases your risk of heart disease.
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In 2014, only 72% of adults said they participated in leisure physical activity. Even 1.5 hours of intense physical activity or 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week can greatly reduce your chance of heart-related problems.
If you are at risk for heart disease you can start making changes to your lifestyle today. The mission of Long Island Health Collaborative is to improve the health of people living with chronic disease, obesity, and behavioral health conditions in Nassau and Suffolk counties. If you’re seeking more information about reducing your risk of heart disease, check out our resources.