Heart failure deaths double among younger and middle aged Americans

Heart failure deaths among young and middle aged adults in the United States have doubled, according to Medical Xpress. The report from the Heart Failure Society of America shows that mortality rates for individuals aged 25 to 64 years old are rising steadily and far outpacing increases seen among seniors. [1]

Until recently, heart failure had been considered a health condition that mainly affected senior citizens. Dr. Eiran Gorodeski, who served as the report committee chair, stated that medical professionals have made extraordinary advances in treating heart failure, yet the overall population burden of the condition continues to move in the wrong direction. [1]

The heart is a muscular organ located in the middle compartment of the chest between the lungs, roughly the size of a closed fist. It pumps blood through blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body while transporting metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to the lungs. Structurally, the organ contains four chambers, four regulating valves, and three wall layers including the thick myocardium muscle responsible for contractions. [2][4]