- Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan reportedly had heart-related health issues for years before dying after experiencing cardiac arrest this week.
- Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with obesity, smoking, unhealthy diet, and inadequate exercise among the factors.
- Experts say regular doctor visits and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can lower one’s risk of heart disease.
The prevalence and dangers of heart disease are once again a prime medical topic after the death of former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Hogan, whose birth name was Terry Bollea, died at the age of 71 after authorities say he experienced cardiac arrest at his home in Florida.
No official cause of death has been released yet.
For the past decade, there have been reports that Hogan had been living with a number of health issues. He reportedly had surgeries for back injuries as well as heart-related issues.
A story published today quotes a family member saying that Hogan knew his heart was failing. The family member said Hogan had lost significant weight. He was also experiencing shortness of breath and getting tired easily.
If it’s confirmed that Hogan died due to heart disease, his case would not be unusual.
Heart disease is the
More than 900,000 people died from cardiovascular disease in the U.S. in 2023, about one-third of all deaths reported.
Heart disease accounts for about one in four deaths of women in the U.S. every year. Symptoms are different for women than men.
The CDC reports that every year, more than 800,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack. About 600,000 of those cases are first-time heart attacks.
A
These reductions are attributed to advances in public health measures focused on prevention and lifesaving interventions to improve early diagnosis and treatment.
However, the report also noted there are major shifts in the types of heart disease people are dying from, with significant increases in deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease.
Heart disease is an umbrella term encompassing a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions. They include:
Heart disease can’t be cured, but medications, procedures, and lifestyle changes can help moderate symptoms.
Many people with heart disease don’t experience symptoms until they have a heart attack.
“Symptoms aren’t always prevalent, so early detection can be difficult,” said Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC, a consultative cardiologist and director of the Digital Transformation Pacific Heart Institute in Santa Monica, California.
“A lot of people go undetected and aren’t really paying attention to their bodies,” Tadwalkar told Healthline.
Experts say the consequences are nothing to take lightly.
“Heart disease can potentially lead to many types of serious and possibly deadly consequences, including heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and stroke,” said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California.
There are screenings that can be done to check for heart disease. They include:
Experts say these tests can provide vital information to medical professionals.
“Regular visits to your primary care doctor will screen for high blood pressure and obesity, and routine blood tests can screen for high cholesterol and diabetes,” Jeffrey Teuteberg, MD, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University in California, told Healthline. “For those at risk or with new symptoms, your doctor may order an ECG, stress testing, or a coronary calcium screening.”
Tadwalkar said even an annual physical exam by a family doctor can help.
“That alone can catch a significant share of disease potential,” he said.
Tadwalkar added that as people age, they might consider seeing a cardiologist on a regular basis.
“Make sure your healthcare provider is getting baseline information on your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose – monitor those regularly as needed,” said Rosen, who is also the executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, part of Northwell Health.
She added it’s important for people to know their family history of heart-related issues.
“Some heart disease can be genetic, especially if you have a close family relative who was diagnosed or passed from heart disease at an early age,” Rosen told Healthline.
Experts say there are a number of reasons that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States.
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- An aging population
“Our high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet all contribute to the high prevalence of heart disease,” Chen told Healthline.
There are a number of lifestyle habits a person can adopt to lower their risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association has a guideline known as
- Healthy diet
- Regular exercise
- Quitting tobacco
- Adequate sleep
- Weight management
- Controlling cholesterol
- Managing blood sugar
- Managing blood pressure
“Fortunately, there are a lot of things people can do to lower their risk. These include eating a balanced diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight,” said Teuteberg. “Quitting tobacco use is also an essential part of lowering risk. If you have any of the risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, then close monitoring and management is also really important.”
Tadwalkar noted that lifestyle changes can be difficult to establish. He said even small modifications can be beneficial, especially when it comes to exercise.
“Any activity is good,” he said. “A 10 or 15-minute walk or meditating for 10 or 15 minutes is helpful.”
Rosen said a healthy lifestyle can do more than just improve heart health.
“With your clinician, work on a plan to become more active, if you are smoking, stop, work to get a better night’s sleep, develop a strategy to manage your weight, control your cholesterol, manage your blood sugar and your blood pressure. This will lead to living a healthier and more productive and joyful life,” she said.