The Importance of Heart Care

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease, which is equivalent to one in every five deaths.

Cardiologist Letitia Anderson, MD, offers insight to focus on optimal heart health and what we can do to prevent heart disease.

What are common heart conditions?

Heart disease includes a variety of conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels including coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, heart rhythm problems and endocarditis.

What lifestyle changes help prevent common heart conditions?

The American Heart Association recommends following Life’s Simple 7^® Journey to Health™ to live a healthy lifestyle. This may include:

• No smoking
• Eat better
• Get active
• Lose weight
• Manage blood pressure
• Control cholesterol
• Reduce blood sugar

According to the American Heart Association, studies have shown people within optimal ranges of Life’s Simple 7^® Journey to Health™ metrics have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke when compared to those not in optimal ranges. Even just achieving four of the seven metrics lowers diabetes incidence by 75%, five of the seven metrics cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease by 50% and six of the seven metrics have a 51% lower risk of cancer. Although these steps help promote and introduce a healthy lifestyle, any small effort to address these seven metrics is beneficial to your health.

Is heart disease still the leading chronic disease in the U.S.?

According to the CDC, heart disease and its variety of heart-related conditions, is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups. Risk factors for heart disease include those that Life’s Simple 7^® Journey to Health™ is designed to reduce, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking use, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.

What are the symptoms of a possible heart attack?

Recognizing the signs of a possible heart attack could save you or a loved one’s life if you seek medical attention immediately.

• An out of the ordinary pressure, fullness or squeezing in the center of the chest. It could last a few minutes or stop and then start once again intermittently.
• Pain or discomfort in your shoulders, arms, neck or jaw. Back pain is common in women, as well.
• Shortness of breath without cause (more likely in women).
• Lightheadedness or fainting.
• Turning pale and experiencing a cold sweat.
• Nausea, dizziness and vomiting associated with stomach pain or discomfort.
• Anxiety, fatigue or weakness without cause.

Leading up to a possible heart attack, you may notice these symptoms after physical activity:

• Unusual fatigue.
• Feeling that your heart is beating too fast or skipping a beat, known as palpitations.
• Struggling to breathe, also known as dyspnea.
• Chest pain that is more severe or prolonged.

Remember that in a cardiac emergency, minutes matter. Call 911 immediately if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above.