Survey: Majority of Americans are heart smart but don’t lead a heart healthy life

Nearly half of all Americans have some type of cardiovascular disease, contributing to 1 in 4 deaths each year—in fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. To better understand how Americans understand and perceive the importance of heart health, SingleCare conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults to determine their attitudes and behaviors.  

Americans are mindful of their heart health… 

According to SingleCare’s survey, 91% of Americans said they were mindful of their heart health and know what they need to do to be heart healthy. Still, 84% said they’re interested in learning more about their health. The survey also revealed:  

• 81% said the know how to improve their heart health

• 76% said they are knowledgeable about their heart health 

• 56% of Americans use a health tracker (e.g. Apple Watch, Fitbit) to monitor and measure their heart health 

• A third (33%) said they’ve thought about their heart health in the past week 

• 55% are concerned COVID-19 could impact their heart health

But they aren’t doing enough about it… 

The leading factors of heart disease include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol use. Yet, despite the 79% who said they know the contributing factors, many respondents continue to demonstrate unhealthy behaviors that can lead to heart disease:  

• 40% said they do not exercise regularly 

• 35% said they don’t manage their stress well 

• 31% said they have a poor diet 

• 21% said they don’t go to their doctor for their physical exam 

• 18% said they drink alcoholic beverages regularly 

• 11% said they use tobacco products 

And they’re feeling the impact.  

SingleCare’s recent survey revealed a quarter of respondents have heart health issues: 1 in 5 respondents have a chronic heart condition that requires treatment with prescription medication. The survey also revealed: 

• More than a third (35%) of respondents said they’ve experienced high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease 

• 30% said they’ve experienced high cholesterol 

• 20% said they’ve experienced shortness of breath 

• 18% said they’ve experienced chest pain 

• 43% said they have a family member who has heart health issues 

• 37% said that they have a family member with chronic heart conditions that requires treatment with a prescription medication 

Methodology 

SingleCare conducted this heart health survey online through SurveyMonkey on Feb. 8, 2022. This survey includes 1,009 United States residents and adults ages 18+. Age and gender were census-balanced to match the U.S. population in age, gender, and U.S. region.