Nearly 90% of Americans at risk of silent disease — here’s what to know

America’s heart healthis improving in one key way, but a newly defined syndrome is raising alarms.

The findings come from the American Heart Association (AHA), which reported improvements in life expectancy and fewer heart attacks and strokes compared to 2023.

New to this year’s report is a focus on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a framework that examines interconnected risks tied to heart disease, kidney disease,diabetes and obesity.

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The AHA estimates that nearly 90% of U.S.adults have at least one component of CKM syndrome.

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A study found U.S.heart health is improving, but overlapping heart, kidney and metabolic risks remain widespread.(iStock)

While fewer Americans are dying from cardiovascular events, experts warn the prevalence of these risk factors could drive future disease if left unaddressed.

The data show the impact is not evenly distributed across age groups.

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Stroke deathsincreased among certain age groups, including an 8.3% rise among adults ages 25 to 34 and an 18.2% increase among people over age 85, according to the AHA.

While fewer Americans are dying from heart-related causes, the data show warning signs across specific age groups.(iStock)

The data also showed increases in high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity amongchildren and adolescentsages 2 to 19.

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The eight elements include ahealthy diet, participation in physical activity, avoidance of nicotine, healthy sleep, healthy weight, and healthy levels of blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure.

Prevention efforts include the AHA’s “Life’s Essential 8,” which targets key lifestyle and health factors that can reduce cardiovascular risk.(iStock)

He noted that improving those factors could prevent up to 40% of annual all-cause and cardiovascular deaths among adults.

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“It is not good enough to sit back and celebrate a reduction in heart attacks and strokes,” Serwer said.“We have to look aggressively at the data regarding our youth and target ways to combat childhood obesity, high blood pressure and metabolic syndromes which will manifest as cardiovascular disease down the road.”