Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women nationwide. Approximately 1 in 4 deaths in the United States are attributed to heart disease, meaning approximately 600,000 people die from it annually. Heart disease is the main cause of heart attacks, from which an estimated 720,000 Americans suffer each year.
But heart disease can often be prevented — starting at a young age. February is American Heart Month, and it is a great time to refresh your knowledge of heart disease risk factors, heart attack recognition and prevention for you and your family.
Heart disease results from the buildup of plaque on the inside of arteries. This buildup can hinder and eventually block blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of heart disease. These include high levels of LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), low levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind), high blood pressure, family history of heart disease, diabetes, smoking and obesity. Women who are post-menopausal and men over the age of 45 also have a higher risk for heart disease.
While factors like age and family history are out of our control, there are many risks that are caused by lifestyle choices we make, and healthy habits should start in childhood. While heart disease is not common in children, it is important to build healthy behavior within the entire family today, reducing the risk of disease later in life. Maintaining a healthy weight by eating a nutritious diet and engaging in plenty of physical activity is the best way to reduce your risk.
If you are a smoker, kicking that habit could also save your life and the lives of your family members, as smoking weakens the heart and blood vessels and affects many other organs. Research shows that people who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke is also a major risk for your children and those around you, as it causes 34,000 premature deaths due to heart disease annually.
You and your family should also see a primary care physician for regular checkups, and discuss with him or her any concerns or risk factors you may have. Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol, and work with your doctor to make a plan for you and your family to live a healthy lifestyle.
Without regular doctor visits, many people are not aware that they have developed heart disease. Unfortunately for some, their first clue is the onset of a heart attack. If you have heart disease or are at risk for a heart attack, it is important to know the signs that one is occurring. Symptoms of a heart attack can include:
• Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that comes and goes; can include a feeling of pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness
If you believe that you or someone you are with is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. The Eskenazi Health Catheterization Lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide emergency catheterization procedures for heart attack victims. The lab is located at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital.
To find a primary care physician and assess your risk factors for heart disease or heart attack, please call Eskenazi Health Connection at 317-880-7666. For more information about the Eskenazi Health Catheterization Lab, please visit EskenaziHealth.edu.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington