The failure of heart failure prevention, diagnosis and treatment
When you think of heart failure (if you ever do), chances are you assume that it happens to older folks. Not anymore. Heart failure (HF) mortality has risen 121% in the past 20 years among folks ages 25 to 44 and 96% in those ages 45 to 64. And according to new info, almost 25% of U.S. adults will develop HF. That's both awful and preventable.
The main causes of HF are obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease -- all of which are epidemic: More than 40 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, 37 million have chronic kidney disease and 40% have obesity. Other culprits? The Million Veterans Study found that many specific plasma proteins contribute to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
Unfortunately, care for HF is lagging: The quadruple guideline-directed medical therapy uses a beta-blocker, renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and SGLT2 inhibitor. But only 18% of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF) get those treatments. Full implementation could save around 95,000 lives a year in North America.
Prevention -- my recommendation -- is also lagging. At every age, it's essential to overcome obesity (ask your doc about GLP-1s), reshape your nutrition (no highly processed foods), get 300-plus minutes of physical activity weekly, and manage stress. That will prevent, reverse or control diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. And maybe, you can get rid of those mis-signaling proteins with therapeutic plasma exchange (see Lifespan-Edge.com/research). For more heart-health help, investigate AI coaching (with me) at 4YOUngevity.com. Take this advice to heart, please.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at drmikerealage@gmail.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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