Carl Weathers Falls to Heart Disease: What We Can Learn

It’s hard to imagine the world of film and television without Carl Weathers. His career spanned 5 decades. It included his iconic role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, and in recent years, an Emmy nomination for The Mandalorian. Sadly, Weathers passed away on Feb. 2, 2024. He died after a long battle with heart disease. The exact cause was given as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Learn what ASCVD is and why we all need to know about it.

What Is Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease?

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is widespread in America. It’s the #1 cause of death among adults in the U.S. It impacts more Black people than any other racial group. Almost 60% of Black men and women have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association.

With atherosclerosis, this means you have a build-up of a sticky substance, known as plaque, on the walls of the blood vessels (arteries) that feed your vital organs. Eventually, atherosclerosis can block blood flow to the heart and brain. This can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.

But there’s good news. You can take steps to prevent atherosclerosis.

How to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Plaque often starts to build up in our arteries during childhood and gets worse as we age. Some of the main causes are:

• High cholesterol
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking and lots of sitting
• Your genes

The good news is that most of us can prevent atherosclerosis or keep it from getting worse with a heart-healthy lifestyle. There’s no better time to start than during American Heart Month.

Keep Your Arteries Clear with These Key Steps

• Stay active
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Enjoy fruits and vegetables every day
• Don’t smoke

And work with a primary care provider to keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels at healthy levels.

Watch for Signs of Atherosclerosis

Most people don’t know they have atherosclerosis. In the earlier stages, heart disease doesn’t show any symptoms. But if you start having chest pain, often the first sign of atherosclerosis, you’ll want to get screened by UVA heart and vascular health experts. Learn how we diagnose and treat atherosclerosis.

Carl Weathers’ Final Bout With Heart Disease

Weathers was 76 when he died from heart disease. I knew he suffered from severe back pain but i never realized he struggled with heart disease. His family shared he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Featured after his death in a Super Bowl ad, Weathers seemed like he still had many years to entertain us. But sadly, heart disease was a battle even someone who symbolized strength couldn’t win.