A Word About the Heart of Rural America

 Today is both LDL-C Awareness Day and the last day of National Cholesterol Education Month. Clearly, both of these observances are important to the millions of Americans across the country who have high cholesterol and are at elevated risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Something that is not often pointed out about elevated cholesterol levels, however, is the fact that the heart health of rural populations is even more at risk in many ways than their urban and suburban counterparts as health disparities are a very real and unresolved aspect of rural life.

In February of 2020, a Presidential Advisory on Rural Health was released and published jointly by the Journals of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The Advisory examined broad factors impacting rural health disparities, reported new data about rural cardiovascular health and examined the complexity of rural healthcare by looking at individual factors common to rural populations, social determinants of health, and access barriers to care. It offered a very stark picture of the multi-faceted health challenges facing the 1 in 5 of us who live in a rural community.

Rooted in agriculture and community service, The National Grange is a unique organization that in December will mark its 158th year of supporting, strengthening, and advancing ALL aspects of rural life. health and well-being of our members and their families, our neighbors, and the network of businesses, professionals, non-profit organizations who are a part of rural America are among our highest priorities. So, when research findings reveal startling rural health statistics, our response is to reach out to inform and take action to that will roll back the impact on the lives of approximately 20% of Americans who live and work in rural areas of this country.

Consider just two that have special relevance to September observances we note today. Rural citizens have 40% higher prevalence of heart disease, and a significantly greater incidence of high cholesterol (42.2% rural versus 38.8% metropolitan). Now, add to that a host of barriers that impede access to care including fewer physicians (only 9% of physicians practice in rural America but 20% of the population lives there), greater travel distances to receive care, and fewer and fewer hospitals as over 100 rural hospitals have closed in just the last few years. While there are many aspects of public policy that must be adjusted for major progress to be made in addressing the multi-faceted nature of cardiovascular illness in rural communities, an important start is creating more awareness about the heart health disparities facing us. To this end, the National Grange is urging everyone from government, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to be a part of the effort.

Cholesterol Awareness observance activities may be ending today, but the threat of cardiovascular illness does not end, it continues every day. We can all start by learning more about our cardiovascular health risks and asking our health care provider for a regular Cholesterol screening.

Burton Eller is Director of Grange Advocacy at The National Grange, a former Deputy under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S Department of Agriculture, former CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Association, owner of a family farm and a life-long resident and advocate for rural America.

https://www.realclearhealth.com/blog/2024/09/30/a_word_about_the_heart_of_rural_america_1061946.html