Cardiometabolic Health Shapes Your Long-Term Well-Being

When we think about heart health, we often focus on cholesterol levels or the risk of heart attack. But heart health is only part of a much bigger picture. Cardiometabolic health looks at how your heart, blood vessels, and metabolism work together and how the interplay between individual risk factors affects long-term health.

Rather than looking at conditions and various systems in isolation, cardiometabolic health takes a whole-body approach that recognizes our genetics and the way we live our lives affects our overall health and longevity. This is especially critical as heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Cardiometabolic health refers to the overall health of your:

Cardiometabolic health has emerged as a recent buzzword because it helps tell a broader story about our bodies as a harmonious unit, rather than focusing on individual numbers like weight, blood sugar, or cholesterol. Conditions that worsen cardiometabolic health share many of the same risk factors, and when addressed early, lifestyle changes or habits can help us feel better and live longer. A study in 2022 showed that only 6.8% of American adults had ideal cardiometabolic health and that percentage has actually dropped over the past 20 years, so now is the time to make changes!

By focusing on cardiometabolic health factors, your doctor can work with you to address multiple risk factors at once instead of treating conditions after they’ve already progressed. This can help identify risks earlier and help guide lifestyle changes and other health goals. 

To monitor and keep track of your health progress, your provider may regularly evaluate factors such as:

Tracking these measurements and levels over time provides valuable insight into overall health and creates opportunities for early intervention by watching for trends.

The good news is supporting your own cardiometabolic health journey doesn’t require drastic changes. Small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference, including:

Most importantly, working with a trusted healthcare provider helps ensure your care plan is tailored to your individual health needs and goals.

Prioritizing exercise and movement is one important way to optimize your heart health. Think about how when you move, your heart beats faster. Your heart is a muscle, so slowly incorporating more movement into your day conditions your heart over time to tolerate more stress by strengthening those muscle fibers. Developing small changes, turns into habits, which eventually become more automatic when you think about it every day. The commitment you make to your body now improves your quality of life as you age. 

The current recommendations shared by the American Heart Association recommends: 

Additionally, an annual wellness visit is one of the most effective tools for protecting cardiometabolic health. These appointments go beyond treating illness, they focus on prevention, early detection, and long-term well-being.

With three Wellness Centers and a strong network of family care and cardiology providers, Hancock Health offers convenient access to comprehensive care close to home.

Hancock Health is committed to supporting the health of our community at every stage of life. Whether you’re managing existing risk factors or simply want to stay proactive, our providers are here to help you protect your cardiometabolic health.

A healthier heart, balanced metabolism, and consistent preventative care can lead to more energy, fewer complications, and a better quality of life.If it’s been a while since your last visit, consider this your reminder—your future health starts by taking the next small step. Learn more about our Wellness Centers at Hancock Health or Schedule an Annual Wellness Appointment.

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