In-Depth Information From Green Mountain Cardiology

Heart Disease: Just knowing the facts about the number-one killer could save your life.

What is heart disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), or “heart disease,” includes coronary heart disease (heart attack or angina), congestive heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this country, killing nearly twice as many as cancer. Coronary heart disease (CHD) alone is the number-one killer of Americans (and is responsible for one in five women’s deaths). Stroke is the number-three cause of U.S. deaths, accounting for more than one in 15.

Are you at risk for heart disease?
There are two categories of risk factors: Modifiable ones, those you can do something about, and nonmodifiable, those out of your control. Things like cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight and a lack of physical activity are factors you can change. Another factor, diabetes, is also a condition diabetics have some control over. Just one risk factor will raise the chances of developing heart problems. The more risk factors you have, the more prone you are to cardiovascular diseases and the more concerned you should be about taking control of modifiable risk factors.

A proactive approach to good cardiovascular health includes annual physicals, a healthy diet and exercise. You should also get regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks, take your medications as directed by your physician and maintain a healthy weight for your body type so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.

If you’re diabetic, properly manage your blood sugar levels. If you have episodes of blacking out or a racing heart, see a doctor as either of these could be a warning sign of heart disease. If you smoke, do your heart a favor and quit.

Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke.
Often people affected by a heart attack aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. There can be pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, as well, including in one or both arms, the legs, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath may occur with or without chest discomfort. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, fainting spells or lightheadedness. Even if you’re not positive you’re experiencing a heart attack, have it checked out. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.

The warning signs of stroke include: