Preventing Heart Disease in the United States Through Value-Based Care
Heart disease stands as one of the most pressing health concerns globally, affecting millions of lives each year. In the United States specifically, it remains a leading cause of death, causing suffering and posing a substantial burden and stress for healthcare systems. Heart disease poses a huge threat to many, especially under resourced populations. However, more than 75% of heart disease cases are considered avoidable with the right preventative care and modifiable risk factors.
So What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), encompasses a range of conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels. These conditions include coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries), congestive heart failure, heart rhythm problems, heart defects, and more. Often, heart disease manifests through symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, and in some cases heart attacks.
Unfortunately the pervasiveness of heart disease in the United States is widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accounting for one in every five deaths. Some factors contributing to this high prevalence can include sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits, smoking, obesity, and stress.
Can Anything Help Prevent The Risk of Heart Disease?
Some risk factors for heart disease, such as age and family history, cannot be modified as they pertain to genetics. However, several factors are within our control and can help patients avoid the risk of heart disease and can be monitored through proper care and preventable treatment.
Local cardiologists play a crucial role, providing education and providing proper care for patients who are at risk of developing heart disease. The escalating prevalence of heart disease is placing an unsustainable burden on our healthcare system, manifesting in increased emergency room utilization, frequent readmissions, and a surge in costly procedures. The severity of the disease not only strains resources but also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive preventive measures at the local level.
What are Some Modifiable Risk Factors?
1. Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium contributes to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease. Patients can mitigate this risk by going to the doctor and coming up with a personalized plan for adapting their diet if they are at risk of developing heart disease.
2. Physical Inactivity: Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to obesity and high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension all of which can increase the likelihood of heart disease. However, with regular exercise, even moderate activities like brisk walking or cycling, the risk of heart disease becomes far less. can strengthen the heart and improve overall cardiovascular health.
3. Smoking and Tobacco Use: Smoking damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and contributes to the risk of developing heart disease. If a patient has a history of smoking it can drastically increase their risk of developing heart disease..
4. Stress and Mental Health: Chronic stress and anxiety can contribute to unhealthy behaviors like overeating or smoking, which are detrimental to heart health. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, counseling, or mindfulness can positively impact heart disease risk.
Access to Preventative Care
Without regular visits or access to care, most patient populations lack the resources to help them prevent the risk of heart disease, this is where Chamber comes in!
Chamber is positioned to help support practices by providing technology, implementing care team support for office operations, evidence based insights, and delivering patient resources to help improve efficiency of the practices.
By helping cardiology practices transition to value based care contracts, practices are now able to help their patients focus more on preventable treatment and measure patient outcomes.
Although heart disease remains a prevalent and significant health concern in the United States, Chamber is devoted to helping cardiologists get compensated for the excellent care they provide without causing more burden or strain on limited cardiology resources. By prioritizing a heart-healthy lifestyle and focusing on modifiable risk factors through preventative treatment, individuals can take proactive steps towards preventing heart disease and leading longer, healthier lives and cardiologists can finally get rewarded through value based care contracts for their quality of care.
It’s a win win! To learn more about Chamber’s services, contact us here.
