Expert: Walter Hintz - 9/24/2006

Question
I am reading that Heart attacks have sometimes been called a disease of modern civilization, because their incidence is much higher in affluent, developed societies than in poorer, less developed ones. Why is this?  

Answer
Hi Diane
I am not an expert in sociology but I think there are a couple of considerations here.  One has to do with diet. There is definitely a connection between the type of foods we eat and heart disease.  Poorer societies are less likely to eat saturated fatty foods.  Third world countries do not have fast food restaurants to run to.  Secondly, it appears that stress is a factor involved in heart diseases.  Affluence leads to a fast pace society: a struggle to become more affluent and this brings stress.