00:00It turns out that where you live could seriously impact your heart health.
00:04A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology
00:08reveals that nearly half of all U.S. counties don't have a practicing cardiologist on staff.
00:14That's 22 million Americans without local access to heart care, reports Fox News.
00:19Rural communities are especially hit hard, with over 86% of these counties lacking a cardiologist.
00:26This means patients might have to travel an average of 87 miles for treatment,
00:30a long way when every second counts during a heart attack.
00:34Experts say the shortage is due to cardiologists preferring urban areas with better resources and support.
00:41This gap in care leads to higher death rates and shorter life expectancy in rural regions.
00:46Solving the problem, it could involve everything from better incentives for doctors
00:51to expanding telemedicine and improving rural healthcare infrastructure.
00:55Bottom line is that when it comes to heart health,
00:58everyone deserves access to the care they need, no matter where they live.
