When it comes to cardiovascular disease (CVD), members in MDVIP-affiliated practices know a lot. That was one positive takeaway from a national survey of consumers’ understanding of CVD recently conducted by MDVIP and Ipsos. 

For example, most members knew that, in addition to cholesterol levels, inflammation was an important factor in heart disease. But the general public was less informed about a whole host of heart disease-related concerns.

Every year in the U.S., there are well over 700,000 new heart attacks and 335,000 repeat heart attacks. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

Everyone can take simple steps to reduce the modifiable risk factors of heart disease. And when we say everyone, we mean everyone. While some heart disease risk factors are out of your control – including being a man, having a family history of heart disease and simply getting older – you can still do a lot to help prevent a heart attack. 

It’s not exactly news: Heart disease and depression, two of the most common chronic conditions in America, are also linked to each other. Researchers, who have been looking at the connection for decades, know that at least one-fourth of all heart disease patients have depression – many are clinically depressed following a stroke, heart attack or bypass surgery.

They also know that having depression increases men’s risk for heart attack by 60 percent and women’s risk of stroke by 44 percent.

Many of my patients are concerned about heart disease -- and with good reason. It’s the leading cause of death in the United States, despite having effective tools to help detect and prevent it. 

How many push-ups can you do? It may sound like an arbitrary question, but it turns out the number of push-ups you can do may be tied to your future risk of a heart attack, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. 

The study, which followed young firefighters for 10 years, found that those able to perform more than 40 push-ups at the outset of the study had a much lower risk for a heart-related problem than firefighters who did fewer than 10 push-ups. 

When it comes to your heart health, you probably know some of the most important numbers to watch for: blood pressure, weight, cholesterol – especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. Did you know you should also keep tabs on your triglycerides to help prevent your risk of heart disease?

Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, in your blood. In healthy amounts, they give you energy. However, high triglyceride levels may increase your risk of heart disease. Here’s what you need to know about them. 

Over the last decade, experts have told us getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night can help protect us against heart disease. Ever wondered why? Researchers think they might have the answer. Healthy, sound sleep triggers a mechanism designed to protect your arteries, according to a study published in Nature. 

Stress -- you can’t escape it. And it can wreak havoc on blood pressure. Exercise, meditation and hobbies are common, effective stress busters. So is having a social support system of friends and relatives. But if they’re not available, having your significant other present – even if it’s only in your mind – can help keep blood pressure controlled, according to a small study published in Psychophysiology. 

You’re probably aware of the toll everyday stress takes on your health. Headaches, weight gain, insomnia – the list goes on and on. But you may not realize how stress affects your oral health. People with greater levels of perceived stress report poorer oral health, according to a study published in BMC Oral Health. And poor oral health raises the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

It has become clear to me, after more than 35 years of medical practice, that the traditional approach to cardiovascular disease is missing the boat. Just look at these dismal statistics: