Tarrant County recorded a lower heart disease death rate than Texas and the United States in 2024, according to a Tarrant County Public Health data brief. The county reported 143.9 age-adjusted heart disease deaths per 100,000 residents in 2024. Texas recorded 170 deaths per 100,000 residents, while the United States recorded 162.6.
Heart Disease Remains a Serious Health Challenge
Heart disease still remains one of Tarrant County’s most serious health challenges. The county said heart disease was the second-leading cause of death among Tarrant County residents in 2024 and accounted for one in every five deaths. It ranked as the leading cause of death among men, non-Hispanic black residents, non-Hispanic white residents, and residents 65 and older.
Tarrant County’s heart disease mortality rate dropped from 157.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2015 to 143.9 in 2024, according to the county brief. County health officials said the decline was statistically significant.
The percentage of Tarrant County adults age 18 and older with heart disease changed from 5.9% in 2015 to 5.5% in 2024, but county officials said that change was not statistically significant.
The county defines heart disease as several types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, angina, and coronary heart disease. Coronary artery disease can reduce blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack.
Tarrant County Public Health listed several major risk factors for heart disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking.
The county also warned that heart disease may show no symptoms until a person experiences signs of a heart attack, heart failure, or an irregular heartbeat. Potential warning signs include chest, arm, shoulder, or back pain; dizziness or fatigue; nausea or vomiting; shortness of breath; excessive sweating; irregular heartbeat; and jaw or neck pain.
Health officials said residents can reduce risk through healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, regular physical activity, controlling diabetes, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, taking medicine as prescribed, and following a doctor’s instructions.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
