Heart disease is leading cause of death in New Mexico

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 07 February 2020 07 February 2020

Lifestyle changes can reduce risk of heart disease

SANTA FE– As part of National Heart Health Month in February, the New Mexico Department of Health is raising awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the state.  The most recent data available is for 2018. It shows about twenty percent of deaths in the state were the result of heart disease.

Every year cardiovascular disease costs New Mexico $2.5 billion in medical care costs and about $1.9 billion due to absenteeism.  

High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about half of Americans have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease including:

  • Diabetes and prediabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Physical Inactivity
  • Excessive alcohol use

The New Mexico Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP) follows national standards for preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. The program collaborates with partners and healthcare organizations across the state to identify, educate and implement evidence-based strategies to prevent and manage high blood pressure and cholesterol among New Mexico adults. 

HDSPP is partnering with the YMCA of Central New Mexico to offer a blood pressure self-monitoring program. There are limited slots available for the four-month class and you do not have to be a member of the YMCA to participate. Anyone interested can contact the YMCA of Central New Mexico at 505-595-1515, or by email at bloodpressureymca@gmail.com

For more information on heart disease in New Mexico and prevention tips, visit the Environmental Public Health Tracking - Heart Attacks website.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.