Cardiovascular Disease Effects Hundreds of Thousands in Region

Documented/Projected East Tennessee cardiovascular disease cases.

• 2005 – 330,000
• 2015 – 425,000
• 2025 – 475,000

Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer throughout the nation.

• Risk factors include: smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, inactivity.
       - Smoking: Tennessee is 48th in nation (only two state have higher rates).
       - Obesity: 1 in 4 is obese. Tennessee is 5^th highest in the nation in obesity. Tennessee’s obesity population is rising faster than the national average.
               > 1990 – 11.6% of population obese
               > 2005 – 23.1% obese
       - Diabetes: Impacts 21 million children, adolescents and adults in United States.
               > Tennessee is higher than the national average (9.1% vs. 7.3%).
               > Adults in Tennessee with diabetes nearly doubled from 1996 to 2005 (from 5.0% to 9.1%).
               > Obesity, inactivity and poor diet are major factors in Type 2 diabetes.
       - High blood pressure: Tennessee is higher than the national average (30.2% vs. 25.5%). Tennessee is the fifth most hypertensive state in nation.
               > Tennessee – One in three adults has high blood pressure
               > United States– One in four people has high blood pressure
       - High cholesterol: Tennessee numbers are high, but slightly better than the national average (32.9% vs. 35.6%). Sedentary lifestyle is a major contributing factor.

• The aging population is leading to the risk of higher incidences.

• Nationally – 1 in 3 adults has some form of cardiovascular disease.
  

*Posted July 2008.