Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and while great strides have been made in the treatment of heart attacks, the broader picture reveals a troubling reality: other forms of heart disease are steadily on the rise. For Catholics, this is more than a public health issue—it is a call to stewardship of the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As followers of Christ, we are invited to reflect deeply on how we honor the gift of life God has entrusted to us.
According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, overall heart disease death rates in Americans age 25 and older dropped by 66% over the past 50 years. Even more striking, deaths from heart attacks fell by nearly 90%. “Over the past 50 years, our understanding of heart disease, what causes it and how we treat it has evolved considerably,” said lead study author Dr. Sara King of Stanford University School of Medicine. “There have been great strides made in helping people survive initial acute cardiac events that were once considered a death sentence.”
But behind this progress lies an uncomfortable truth: deaths from other types of heart disease—such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and hypertensive heart disease—have increased by 81%. Dr. Andrew Freeman of National Jewish Health, who was not involved in the study, offered a sobering perspective: “These days, the likelihood of dying from a heart attack is relatively low compared to where it’s been, but the likelihood of significant disability from the heart attack is still high.”
In other words, we may survive—but are we thriving?
The rise in chronic conditions linked to heart health is not accidental. From 1970 to 2022, obesity prevalence in the U.S. nearly tripled, from 15% to 40%. Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes now affect nearly half of all adults. High blood pressure rates rose from 30% in 1978 to nearly 50% in 2022. These preventable conditions are shaped by choices we make—what we eat, how we move, how we care for our bodies. These choices, while personal, are deeply moral. To neglect them is to neglect a gift from God.
The Church has always affirmed the dignity of the human person—body and soul. When we disregard the health of our heart through excessive food, sedentary habits, or chronic stress, we fail to treat our bodies with the reverence they deserve. Dr. Latha Palaniappan, senior author of the Stanford study, stated, “Heart disease hasn’t gone away. The focus now must be on helping people age with strong, healthy hearts by preventing events, and prevention can start as early as childhood.”
Catholics are called to be witnesses to life—life in its fullness, not just its duration. That includes cultivating habits that strengthen the body as well as the spirit: regular physical activity, wholesome eating, prayerful rest, and seeking care when needed. These are not burdens—they are acts of gratitude to the Creator.
So what can we do now? First, we begin with awareness and repentance for how we’ve misused the bodies God gave us. Second, we act: we eat more mindfully, move more intentionally, and speak openly with our families and faith communities about the importance of physical health as part of our spiritual life. Finally, we model for our children what it means to honor God with our whole selves.
Let us take these findings not as statistics to fear but as a wake-up call to live differently. To live not just longer—but better, more joyfully, and more faithfully. For as Dr. Freeman reminds us, “It’s one thing to be alive, it’s another to be alive and well.” May we choose wellness—for the sake of our families, our faith, and the God who gave us life.
