There are disparities in the prevalence of heart disease-related mortality between cities in the United States. Lubbock, as per a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease among all cities in Texas.
What is Heart Disease?
A variety of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels are referred to as heart disease, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmia, and stroke. Symptoms associated with these conditions may include weakness, vertigo, chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat. Additionally, severe complications such as disability, diminished quality of life, and mortality can result from heart disease.
What are the heart disease risk factors?
Some cardiovascular disease risk factors are modifiable, which means they are susceptible to alteration or regulation through medical intervention or lifestyle modifications. Smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and an inadequate diet are some of these conditions. Other risk factors are immutable, or incapable of modification. Age, gender, family history, race or ethnicity are some of these factors.
What distinguishes Lubbock from other cities in Texas?
Lubbock exhibited the highest age-adjusted fatality rate from heart disease among the ten most populous cities in Texas in 2017, with 269.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, as reported by the CDC. This constituted a substantial increase in comparison to the statewide mean of 165.8 fatalities per 100,000 individuals and the nationwide average of 165.0 fatalities per 100,000 individuals. Austin had the lowest heart disease mortality rate among all cities in Texas, with 109.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Additionally, the report revealed that among the adult population, Lubbock exhibited the maximum proportion (6.5 percent) of individuals who reported receiving a diagnosis of heart attack, angina, or coronary heart disease from a healthcare professional. This figure exceeded both the state and national averages of 4.2% and 4.0%, respectively. El Paso had the lowest proportion of adults affected by these conditions, accounting for 2.5% of the total population.
What Factors Might Contribute to the High Rates of Heart Disease in Lubbock?
While the report refrained from offering precise rationales for Lubbock’s elevated heart disease prevalence in Texas, it did propose several plausible factors that might account for the municipality’s health condition. The aforementioned components comprise socio-economic, environmental, and behavioral elements; environmental factors comprise air quality, climate, and pollution; and behavioral elements comprise smoking, nutrition, and physical activity.
The report indicates that compared to the state and national averages, Lubbock had a lower percentage of adults with health insurance coverage, a lower percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and a lower median household income. Residents of Lubbock may be marginalized in terms of affordability and access to preventative and curative health services; furthermore, they may be rendered more susceptible to stress and other health hazards.
Additionally, the report revealed that Lubbock exhibited a greater prevalence of adult smokers, an elevated adult obesity rate, and a reduced adult participation rate of 150 minutes or more in aerobic physical activity per week, in comparison to the corresponding figures for the state and national averages. These variables may elevate the likelihood of developing and exacerbating cardiovascular disease, in addition to other persistent ailments like cancer and diabetes.
What Potential Solutions Exist for the High Rates of Heart Disease in Lubbock?
Several strategies suggested in the report have the potential to alleviate the impact of cardiovascular disease in Lubbock and enhance the population’s general health and well-being. Enhancing collaboration and coordination among diverse sectors and stakeholders, including health care providers, public health agencies, community organizations, and local governments; expanding the availability and accessibility of high-quality health care services, particularly for low-income and uninsured populations; and implementing policies and programs that encourage healthy behaviors, such as nutrition education, smoking cessation, and physical activity.
In addition to emphasizing the significance of individual and collective action, the report urged Lubbock residents to assume responsibility for their own health and encourage one another to make healthful decisions. “Everyone has a responsibility to prevent heart disease and improve health outcomes,” the report stated.
In conclusion
Heart disease is a significant public health concern in the United States, with varying prevalence rates observed across different cities. The CDC has recently identified Lubbock, Texas, as the municipality with the highest prevalence of cardiac disease within the state. Socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors were cited as potential causes for Lubbock’s high heart disease rates in the report.
Potential solutions included encouraging healthy behaviors, expanding access to health care, and improving collaboration and coordination. Furthermore, the inhabitants of Lubbock were urged in the report to support one another in their efforts to create a healthier community and to assume accountability and responsibility for their own health and well-being.
