February is American Heart Month
What is Heart Disease?
There are many types of heart disease. The heart gives oxygen and nutrients to all tissues of the body. If it becomes ineffective, vital organs may stop working. If the heart stops working death will occur. Some heart diseases are heart failure, arrhythmia, heart valvue problems, stroke, and heart attacks.
What are the Symptoms of Heart Disease?
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Being physically inactive
- Age (55 or older)
- Family history
What is the most common type of Heart Disease?
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease can appear as a heart attack. Around 785,000 people will have a heart attack in a year and 470,000 of those people will have a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, someone will have a coronary attack and about one every minute will die from one.
What are the signs and symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease?
Chest discomfort:
Discomfort in the center of the chest for a few minutes or it goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body:
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath:
This may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs:
These may include cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
How can you prevent against Heart Disease?
Having a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent heart disease
- Choose lean meats and poultry
- Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products
- Reduce trans fat in your diet
- Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol
- Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt
- If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation
- Keep an eye on your portion sizes
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