Depraved-heart murder, also known as depraved-indifference murder, is an American legal term for an action that demonstrates a “callous disregard for human life” and results in death. If no death results, such acts would generally be defined as reckless endangerment and possibly other crimes, such as assault.
The Silent Killer
The leading killer for both men and women among all racial and ethnic groups in the US is cardiovascular disease (CVD), principally heart disease and stroke. (1)
One person dies every 30 seconds from heart disease – that’s over 2,600 people every single day! (2)
CVD includes dysfunctional conditions of the heart, arteries, and veins that supply oxygen to vital life-sustaining areas of the body like the brain, the heart itself, and other vital organs. If oxygen doesn’t arrive, the tissue or organ will die.
In general this results because excess fat or plaque deposits are narrowing the veins that supply oxygenated blood to the heart. Equally significant is inadequate oxygen flow to the brain, which causes a stroke.(3)
High Blood Pressure (hypertension) often results from this excess fat or plaque buildup because of the extra effort it takes to circulate blood. Even though the heart works harder, blockages still shortchange the needed blood supply to all areas of the body. High blood pressure is often called “The Silent Killer” because the first warning sign is a deadly heart attack or a stroke. (4)
The American Heart Association state high blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.
China
Annual heart disease and stroke rates in China will rise by up to 73 percent by 2030, say researchers from Columbia University Medical Center published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
China’s standard of living and life expectancy have improved for many, but aging, dietary changes and reduced physical activity are leading to more heart disease and stroke, said lead author Andrew Moran, M.D.
One dietary change includes the use of fast food outlets. One fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), opened its first store in China in 1987 near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Since then over 2,000 other outlets have sprung up across Chinese urban areas. KFC has chicken as its core product offering. China imports $800 million in US chicken products annually.
We are seeing this as the start of a public health crisis that will only worsen in the next two decades. Certain dietary factors, such as the high salt diet in Northern China, also have a bearing on cardiovascular disease rates, says Dr. Moran.
Salt
Salt is a commonly occurring mineral, the technical name of which is sodium chloride. It is the sodium part of salt that is important. The body needs a certain amount of sodium which helps to maintain the concentration of body fluids at correct levels. It also plays a central role in the transmission of electrical impulses in the nerves, and helps cells to take up nutrients.
However, too much salt maybe detrimental to health. In adults, when levels of sodium are too high, the body retains too much water and the volume of bodily fluids increases. Many scientists believe this process is linked to high blood pressure, or hypertension. With high levels of fluid circulating through the brain there is a greater chance that weaknesses in the brain’s blood vessels are exposed, and that they may burst, causing a stroke. Similarly, a greater volume of fluid passing through the heart can place additional strain on the organ, increasing the possibility of coronary disease. (5)
To help reduce the risk of disease, it has been recommended we should not be eating more than 6g salt (2.5g sodium) a day.
Hidden Salt
This may be difficult as salt is in many different foods and in some cases, hidden. Much of the salt that we eat, 75 percent, comes from ready-made foods such as bread, cereals and baked beans. Even sweet things, like biscuits, have salt added to them.
The University of California medical center says:
“The average American eats five or more teaspoons of salt each day. This is about 20 times as much as the body needs. In fact, your body needs only one quarter of a teaspoon of salt every day. Salt is found naturally in foods, but a lot of it is added during processing and preparation. Many foods that do not taste salty may still be high in sodium, which can be hidden in large amounts in canned, processed and convenience foods as well as in many foods that are served at fast food restaurants.” (6)
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