Newnan, Ga. (February 13, 2024) – February is heart health awareness month. On Sunday, Feb. 11, Tesfaye Telila, M.D., an Interventional Cardiologist with Piedmont Heart Institute in Fayette, Newnan and Sharpsburg, spoke to parishioners of Saint Smyrna Baptist Church in Newnan about heart disease, risk factors and ways to prevent cardiovascular mortality.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, and affects patients across all age groups, gender, and ethnicities, but vastly preventable,” says Dr. Telila.
“Globally, eighty percent of cardiovascular mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries,” he adds.
Social determinants of health also play a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and here in the US, heart disease disproportionately impacts low income communities that are without or have limited access to cardiovascular care, quality education and healthy diet. Reducing modifiable risk factors can significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality and early life modifications is key.
Dr. Telila spoke about the heart’s role as the engine of our bodies and how coronary artery disease and high blood pressure (hypertension) can increase a person’s risk of a heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. He also spoke about risk factors we can control including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, obesity and diet/exercise.
“More than 11 million people in America today don’t know they have high blood pressure, and of those who do, 30-40% don’t take medications and another 30-40% are only sub-optimally managing their blood pressure,” said Dr. Telila. “If we can get a blood pressure cuff and check our blood pressure one to two times a day and know if we are in normal range (at or below 120/80) or need to control our blood pressure, and then see a cardiologist and take medications if we need them, that would be a good start.”
Unfortunately, do to social determinants of health, African Americans are more at risk of developing heart disease than Caucasians. He said support from the community and a commitment to prioritize our health can help.
“What we do with our bodies and how we take care of our bodies is our responsibility,” he said. “While it is hard to change our diets and increase exercise, we can make small changes and see a difference.”
Dr. Telila also spoke about the importance of catching heart disease early by getting health check-ups and a one-time screening calcium score and checking one’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
“If you remember one thing, remember that if you have chest pain with exertion and then it goes away when you stop exerting your body, this is bad and you need to seek medical care,” he said.
A yearly physical can help you stay on top of your blood pressure numbers and take steps to reduce your risk factors. To schedule an appointment or learn more on the topic of hypertension, visit piedmont.org/annualphysical.