What is heart disease?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Every year 500,00 people die of heart disease.

The most common type of heart disease is when arteries are clogged by fat and cholesterol. This can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the artery is fully blocked and does not let oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• chest and upper body discomfort
• shortness of breath
• cold sweats
• nausea
• feeling light-headed

Heart disease risk factors

Risk factors for heart disease that you can control are:

• smoking
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• lack of physical activity
• being overweight
• diabetes or uncontrolled blood sugar levels
• excess stress and anger

Risk factors you can NOT control are:

• being male and over the age of 45
• being female and over the age of 55
• race/ethnicity*
• family medical history

*African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasian Americans

Questions to ask your doctor

If you want to learn more about your own risk for heart disease, ask you doctor or healthcare provider the following questions:

• What is my risk for heart disease?
• Are my cholesterol and blood pressure at healthy levels?
• How much physical activity do I need to keep my heart healthy?
• What is a heart healthy diet for me?
• What other tests do I need to screen for heart disease?
• For smokers: Can you help me quit smoking?

For more information go to:

http://www.americanheart.org

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov