A recent Cleveland Clinic survey has uncovered significant gaps in heart health awareness among Americans, highlighting how everyday habits and overlooked health issues can increase the risk of heart disease — the leading cause of death in the United States.

The nationwide survey, conducted online between October 18 and 29, 2023, among 1,000 adults, found that many respondents were unaware of key heart health risk factors. Alarmingly, 40% of participants did not know that using tobacco harms heart health, while 62% were unaware that air pollution could affect the heart. Additionally, 90% did not realize that certain vitamins and supplements could negatively impact cardiovascular health.

Dr. Ashish Sarraju from Cleveland Clinic emphasized that despite the widespread perception that vitamins and supplements are natural and harmless, scientific research does not always support their benefits for heart health. He also pointed out that sleep deprivation — often underestimated — could have a cascading effect on lifestyle, affecting diet, exercise patterns, and even signaling undiagnosed sleep apnea.

The survey also revealed that many Americans are skipping their prescribed heart medications, with 3 in 5 admitting to doing so. The most common reasons included forgetting (59%), experiencing mental health issues (17%), feeling healthy (16%), or not liking the idea of taking multiple medications (15%). Dr. Samir Kapadia, Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, warned that while missing doses may not cause immediate symptoms, it could have serious long-term consequences on heart health.

Heart disease remains a major public health challenge, and its prevalence is projected to rise. According to a 2024 report by the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 61% of American adults could have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, largely due to increasing rates of high blood pressure.

Experts emphasize that while some heart disease risk factors are genetic, many can be managed through lifestyle changes such as quitting tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, staying physically active, and adhering to prescribed medications.