|
Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the US
Stroke and Heart Attack affect millions of American men and women (annually), and it can lead to disability and death. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and kills over 400,000 men and women each year. One out of every five deaths is due to CHD. One-third of people who have a heart attack do not survive it. In addition, over 12 million Americans are currently living with coronary heart disease pain and/or heart problems. Even though, heart disease is deadly many cases are preventable.
Coronary Heart Disease is a condition which affects the vessels which supply the heart's muscle with blood, oxygen and nutrients. If these blood vessels (coronary arteries) become partially blocked, a person can have decreased heart function and may experience pain in the chest, arm, neck or jaw (angina). If the vessels become completely blocked, some of the heart muscle can die, which is called a heart attack (myocardial infarction). In some cases, a vessel can also be blocked by a spasm in the artery. Spasms can occur and lead to heart attacks in vessels with or without atherosclerosis.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of CHD is chest pain, but coronary heart disease can also be "silent" causing a heart attack or sudden death without any warning signs. The "classic" symptom of a heart attack is pain or pressure in the chest that can spread to the arm, shoulder, neck or jaw. This pain/pressure may also come with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or lightheadedness. Some people experience abdominal pain, nausea, shortness of breath, palpitations or weakness without any chest pain. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Who is at risk?
Both men and women are at risk of developing CHD, however it is not usually seen in men younger than 40 or in women of reproductive age. There are many different factors that affect the risk of CHD. Some of these risk factors cannot be altered, like family history, advanced age and sex, but there are many others that can be changed or controlled, like smoking, exercise, body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. There are many lifestyle factors and medications that can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and heart attack.
How can you prevent Coronary Heart Disease?
There are many things that you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease, like: not smoking, avoiding second-hand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke), eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding high blood pressure, treating diabetes but still have elevated risk, controlling your cholesterol levels, get screened regularly.
If you already have heart disease or risk factors for it, it is important to see your doctor regularly to address lifestyle issues and medications that can help treat your condition.
Who should be screened for Coronary Heart Disease?
People of all ages should be screened periodically for risk factors of CHD: diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and overweight/obesity.
For additional information on Coronary Heart Disease, visit these web sites:
|
|
