Unfortunately, the numbers do not paint a complete picture when it comes to heart disease and police officers. Sheinberg says heart attacks aren`t often considered deaths unless the death occurs during a shift. Obesity and its consequences are also a huge problem among men and women who wear the uniform. According to published data, more than 80% of law enforcement officers are overweight and 40% are clinically obese[19]. According to data collected by the Public Safety Cardiac Foundation, more than 80% of police officers in Central Texas have been found obese by measuring body fat.[20] [5] Harvard Health Publishing, “Surviving a Heart Attack: A Success Story,” Harvard Health, accessed December 21, 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/surviving-a-heart-attack-a-success-story. Once detected, coronary artery disease can be alleviated and the risk of heart attack can be significantly reduced. There is a well-defined three-pronged approach to mitigating risks. First, it has been definitively proven that certain cholesterol medications, especially HMG co-reductase inhibitors or “statins,” cause plaque receding and reduce coronary inflammation. [13] Second, lifestyle changes, especially changes in eating and exercise habits, have been shown to not only reduce coronary heart disease, but also prolong life and reduce metabolic problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Finally, the use of certain supplements has also been shown to reduce risk in certain populations.
For example, in people who have an increase in Lp-Pla2, one of the components of fish oil, known as ethyl icosapent, or EPA, has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation. [14] Heart attacks are preventable and do not have to be a leading cause of death for men and women in uniform. It can be detected early and identified once; It can be successfully treated. My goal is to eliminate heart disease in law enforcement. With this, we finally reach our goal of less than 100. If we eliminate heart disease, we are able to do so. But this requires early detection through a calcium score and the blood test called phospholipase A2. This requires the early implementation of treatment strategies that include the right medication, lifestyle changes, and nutrient replacement. If we recognize it early, it is fixable.
This issue can be resolved. Your heart matters, your life matters. It`s up to you. Dr. Sheinberg was a member of the U.S. Department of Justice`s Presidential Task Force on 21st Century Policing and a member of the Task Force on Officer Safety and Well-Being. He developed the Cardiac Screening Initiative (CSI), an observational cohort study to determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease in asymptomatic law enforcement officers. Currently, he is also Chief Medical Officer of Sigma Tactical Wellness (www.iamSigma.com) and has developed cardiac and metabolic screening programs implemented in agencies in the United States, Canada and Europe. So if we look at a 24-hour window, death from heart attack is invariably the leading cause of death year after year. And these numbers don`t even take into account heart attacks that don`t result in death.
This creates a major problem. As police officers, our life expectancy is 22 years less than that of the general population. If you`re a civilian, chances are you`ll live to be 79. But if you`re a police officer, our life expectancy is 57 years. And that`s a big issue for us, because the average retirement age for a police officer is 57. We die early. Age-related changes in the electrical system can alter the rhythm and regularity of the heart rhythm. The chambers of the heart may also increase in size. Dr. Jonathan Sheinberg has worked in law enforcement since 1989 and is currently a lieutenant in the Travis County Sheriff`s Department in Texas. He is also a board-certified cardiologist and has been working in the health care field for almost as long. The inherent nature of policing consists of long periods of routine and sometimes mundane patrol or investigation, punctuated by short periods of intense excitement leading to an accelerated release of adrenaline.
This is called the policing model, often described as “98% boredom and 2% pure terror.” This unexpected and rapid secretion of adrenaline leads to several rapid physiological changes. Initially, there is a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure. There are repeated Valsalva maneuvers (increased intrathoracic pressure due to taking and respiratory pressure) as well as activation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, as the agent uses both sides of the upper and lower body to reduce the offensive and defensive threat. These intense episodes can last for several minutes, and in many cases, when those responsible “fight for their lives,” they quickly switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. [10] Physicians assisting law enforcement officers should consider the following:[2] startsat60.com/health/health-issues/heart-health/what-to-do-to-reduce-risk-heart-attack-older-age-diet-changes-lifestyle-risks In addition to medicine, Dr.