Heart disease is the most common serious chronic condition among adults. 

In fact per the latest report staggering 1 in 3 US adults received care for a cardiovascular risk factor or condition in 2020. 

The same report projects that annual inflation-adjusted health care costs attributable to cardiovascular conditions will nearly quadruple from $393 billion in 2020 to $1,490 billion by 2050.

Truly astounding numbers. 

Heart disease is an umbrella term that encompasses coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and other structural or functional heart disorders.

But, despite this complexity, there is clear guidance from the American Heart Association about what to do to improve and maintain heart health, they call them them Life’s Essential 8: 

1. Consume a healthy diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, lean proteins (including fish), and minimizing trans fats, red and processed meats, refined carbohydrates, and sweetened beverages.

2. Maintain a healthy body weight through caloric restriction and counseling for those with overweight or obesity.

3. Engage in regular physical activity, specifically at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity exercise.

4. Avoid tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke.

5. Limit alcohol intake to moderate levels, if consumed at all.

6. Manage blood pressure through lifestyle changes and, if needed, medication.

7. Control blood cholesterol with diet, physical activity, and medication when indicated.

8. Prevent and manage diabetes with lifestyle modifications and appropriate pharmacologic therapy when necessary.

We know that behavioral counseling for these lifestyle changes can be effective. But, to date, occupational therapy has been underutilized in this critical public health initiative. 

In today’s course, we’ll talk to one occupational therapist, Sabina Kahn, who is using her OT skill-set to help tackle this large scale problem, through new technologies. 

We’ll discuss why OT has been under-utilized to date, what opportunities exist for OTs to play a larger role, and what new technologies might help us step into this critical role, with our unique expertise.

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