Heart Health For All
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a term used to describe conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels.
The most common of these conditions is coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow to the heart and can result in a heart attack.
Heart disease is the number-one killer of Americans, and the leading cause of hospitalization in the VA health care system. It is also a major cause of disability for Veterans, who have an increased risk for the deadly disease, according to Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Gregory Trachiotis, MD.
“Veterans are a unique group compared to a general population in that there are slightly more smokers, diabetics and hypertensive patients. When you combine those factors, you see an increase in substantial risk factors for heart disease,” said Trachiotis.
In 1935, the VA established its first cardiovascular research unit at the Washington DC VA Medical Center to study ways to treat and prevent heart disease in Veterans. In the 87 years since, VA Physicians have studied Veterans with heart disease to identify underlying causes, risk factors and prevention and treatment methods.
VA research was instrumental in identifying high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and smoking as key risk factors for heart disease. Other risk factors they discovered could lead to heart disease include:
- Diabetes
- Overweight and Obesity
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Excessive alcohol use
Family history of the following can also increase the risk of heart disease:
- Coronary artery disease
- Liver disease
- Immune disorders like HIV
- Genetic conditions that can cause structural problems of the heart
- Lipid disorders
Trachiotis encourages Veterans to share their family medical history with their primary care provider, who can identify any genetic traits that could pose a risk of heart disease and help develop a plan to minimize them.
“It is important to be screened by your doctor. The heart is the major central organ and pumping mechanism of blood and energy sources, including oxygen, to the whole body. So, if you have conditions that affect the function of the heart it can have consequences throughout the whole body and organs,” said Trachiotis.
In the 87 years since the Washington DC VA Medical Center began researching heart disease for the VA, the demographic of Veterans they serve has changed. Trachiotis said the Medical Center is doing a great job incorporating those changes into the way they treat Veterans for heart disease.
“The patient population we are serving has transitioned from the WWII and Korea era to a more ethnically and gender diverse population of today. We are focused on meeting the unique differences of men and women’s health and developing preventive care for all because heart disease affects us all,” he said.
Medications to treat underlying conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can help reduce the side effects of living with heart disease, but the most effective treatment and preventative options continue to be healthier lifestyle habits.
“I know we hear it often, but finding a good balance of routine exercise, eating healthier and avoiding excessive stress can make the difference,” said Trachiotis. “Even just replacing your carbonated drinks with water, the purest and most basic substance we need, can serve you very well in the long run.”
To learn more about heart disease research at the VA, visit: cardiovascular disease.