Heart Disease in The Bahamas: What Are We Missing?
By My Healthcare Link
Heart health is something to think about before the emergency — not only after it. Understanding your risk factors and knowing where to access healthcare are important parts of taking care of your health. Find primary-care, diagnostic and specialist services through myhealthcarelink. This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.
Heart health isn't just about your heart.
When people hear “heart disease,” they may immediately think about a
heart attack.
But cardiovascular health is much broader.
It is connected to blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, physical
activity, tobacco use, weight, diet, kidney health and family history.
A major health concern in The Bahamas
The Bahamas' National Health Strategy identifies cardiovascular disease
— particularly ischemic heart disease and stroke — among the country's leading
causes of death, alongside diabetes and cancers.
PAHO's country profile also identifies cardiovascular disease, cancer
and diabetes as major contributors to health loss in The Bahamas.
What increases cardiovascular risk?
The American Heart Association identifies factors including:
- High
blood pressure
- High
cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Overweight
or obesity
- Tobacco
use
- Physical
inactivity
- Family
history
- Kidney
disease
The important thing is that these risks can interact.
Someone may have high blood pressure alongside diabetes and high
cholesterol without experiencing obvious symptoms.
The Bahamas' National Health Strategy reports 76% overweight or obesity
among adults based on the Bahamas STEPS 2019 data reviewed for the strategy. It
also reports widespread physical inactivity and other lifestyle-related risk
factors.
These statistics describe population-level risk. They do not tell us an
individual's personal risk.
Prevention starts before an emergency
Many cardiovascular risk factors can be addressed through lifestyle
changes, monitoring and medical treatment when appropriate.
That can include:
- Staying
physically active
- Eating
a balanced diet
- Avoiding
tobacco
- Monitoring
blood pressure
- Managing
diabetes
- Managing
cholesterol
- Maintaining
a healthy weight
- Following
prescribed treatment
The American Heart Association notes that cardiovascular risk assessment
can incorporate factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, kidney
function and smoking history.
Sources & Further Reading
- The
Bahamas — National Health Strategy 2026–2030
- American
Heart Association — Understand Your Risks to Prevent a Heart Attack
- American
Heart Association — PREVENT Cardiovascular Risk
- PAHO —
The Bahamas Country Profile