What is heart disease?
There are different types of heart disease, but the kind you need to worry about most is coronary heart disease.
Your heart has arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle. These are your coronary arteries. Over time, fatty deposits called plaque can build up in the walls of these arteries, reducing the blood supply. In some people — but not everyone — this can cause chest pain called angina.
Over time, a plaque can rupture, triggering a blood clot to form. This can block blood flow to the heart muscle, causing part of it to start to die. This is a heart attack. A heart attack is an emergency; get to the hospital right away. The quicker you get treatment, the more of your heart muscle might be saved.
What is stroke?
Most strokes happen because of problems like the ones that trigger heart attacks. Fatty deposits (plaque) build up in arteries carrying blood to the brain. If the plaque ruptures, it will trigger a blood clot to form. This will block the artery, and part of the brain won’t get the blood and nourishment it needs. That part of the brain will start to die. This is an ischemic stroke, the most common type. Another type of stroke, a hemorrhagic stroke, occurs when a blood vessel to the brain bursts. This also deprives a part of the brain of the blood it needs, causing part of the brain to die. Both kinds of stroke can kill you or leave you with severe physical and emotional problems.
What can I do to prevent heart disease or stroke?
Know your blood pressure. Your heart moves blood through your body. If it is hard for your heart to do this, your heart works harder, and your blood pressure will rise. People with high blood pressure often have no symptoms, so have your blood pres sure checked every 1 to 2 years. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may suggest you make some lifestyle changes, such as eating less salt (DASH Eating Plan) and exercising more. Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to help lower your blood pressure.
Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. If you're having trouble quitting, there are products and programs that can help you.
Get tested for diabetes. People with diabetes have high blood glucose (often called blood sugar). People with high blood sugar often have no symp toms, so have your blood sugar checked regularly. Having diabetes raises your chances of getting heart disease. If you have diabetes, your doctor will decide if you need diabetes pills or insulin shots. Your doctor can also help you make a healthy eating and exercise plan.
Get your cholesterol and triglyceride levels tested. High blood cholesterol can clog your arteries and keep your heart from getting the blood it needs. This can cause a heart attack. Triglycerides are a form of fat in your blood stream. High levels of triglycerides are linked to heart disease in some people. People with high blood cholesterol or high blood triglycerides often have no symptoms, so have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly. If your cholese rol or triglyceride levels are high, talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower them. You may be able to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels by eating better and exercising more. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your cholesterol.
If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink (one 12 ounce beer, one 5 ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5 ounce shot of hard liquor) a day.
Find healthy ways to cope with stress. Lower your stress level by talking to your friends, exercising, or writing in a journal.
How can I lower my cholesterol?
Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower your total cholesterol and LDL ("bad cholesterol") levels. If not, try making small changes like eating an apple instead of potato chips, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking farther away from the entrance to your office, the grocery store, or the mall. (But be sure to park in a safe, well-lit spot.)
Eat better. Eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.Get moving. Exercise can help lower LDL ("bad cholesterol") and raise HDL ("good cholesterol"). Exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Take a brisk walk on your lunch break or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Take your medicine. If your doctor has prescribed medicine to lower your choles terol, take it exactly as you have been told to.
Do women need to worry about heart disease?
Yes. One in three American women dies of heart disease. In 2003, almost twice as many women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women should take steps to prevent heart disease.
Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. Treatments can limit heart damage but they must be given as soon as possible after a heart attack starts. Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.
Do women of color need to worry about heart disease?
Yes. African American and Hispanic American/Latina women are more likely to get heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and diabetes than white women. Women of color also are more likely than white women to die of heart disease. If you're a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.
How do I know if I have heart disease?
Heart disease often has no symptoms. But, there are some signs to watch for. Chest or arm pain or discomfort can be a symptom of heart disease and a warning sign of a heart attack. Shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air), dizziness, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), abnormal heartbeats, or feeling very tired also are signs. Talk with your doctor if you're having any of these symptoms. Your doctor will take a medical history, do a physical exam, and may order tests.
What are the signs of a heart attack?
Not everyone has all of the warning signs of heart attack. And, sometimes these signs can go away and come back.
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
- Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air), breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), or feeling faint or woozy
Some women have more vague symptoms such as:
• Unusual tiredness
• Trouble sleeping
• Problems breathing
• Indigestion (upset stomach)
• Anxiety (feeling uneasy or worried)
What are the signs of a stroke?
To help protect yourself and your loved ones from stroke, know the warning signs and what to do if they occur. They are:
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. If you have one or more stroke warning signs, don’t wait — call 9-1-1 immediately! Get to a hospital fast. The quicker you get treatment, the less severe your stroke may be.
What should I do if I think I or someone else is having a heart attack or a stroke?
If you think you, or someone else, may be having a heart attack, wait no more than a few minutes—five at most—before calling 911.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack or stroke, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.
If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.
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