Healthy heart tips
What is heart disease?
Heart and blood vessel diseases make up cardiovascular disease — also known as heart disease. Heart disease includes conditions that damage the heart such as:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Congestive heart failure
- Congenital heart disease
- Stroke
How common is heart disease?
- Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. dies of a stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular disease
- Eighty percent of all heart disease and strokes could be prevented if people exercised more, ate healthier and stopped using tobacco
- Heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. for men and women
- Cardiovascular disease, listed as the underlying cause of death, accounts for nearly 836,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. That’s about 1 of every 3 deaths in the U.S
What are the risk factors for heart disease?
- Having high blood pressure, which is defined as having a systolic blood pressure reading between 130 and 139 mmHg or a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mmHg
- Having high cholesterol defined as over 200 mg/dL
- Having diabetes
- Being overweight defined as having a body mass index (BMI) measurement over 25
- Your hereditary background
Tips to help keep a healthier heart
- Exercise regularly by aiming for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week
- Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Manage your blood pressure
- Take control of your cholesterol
- Keep blood sugar at healthy levels
- Don’t smoke
- Manage stress
- Establish a relationship with a primary care physician, know your health numbers (BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose) and follow your doctor’s advice
Heart attack warning signs
If you, a loved one, friend or someone you witness is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 and get help.
- Chest discomfort
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Nausea
- Light headedness
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