What You Need to Know About Heart Disease
Did you know that every 33 seconds in the US, someone dies from heart disease? In fact, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. While those statistics are sobering, most heart attacks and strokes caused by heart disease are preventable.
What is Heart Disease?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares abundant information on heart disease, what makes you at risk for it, and signs to watch out for that may indicate it. Heart disease is a blanket term for several different heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, caused by plaque buildup in the artery walls that supply blood to the heart.
Risk Factors
The most significant factors that put you at risk for heart disease are:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle
Heart Disease Symptoms
One of the most unsettling aspects of heart disease is that it doesn’t always present symptoms. Many people are unaware that they have the condition until they experience signs of a heart attack, heart failure, or heart arrhythmia.
Heart attack symptoms: Chest pain that can feel like tightness or squeezing, discomfort, indigestion, dizziness, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, and sharp pains in the neck, arm, or back.
Heart failure symptoms: Fatigue or weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet, reduced ability to exercise, shortness of breath, wheezing, and swelling of the belly area.
Heart arrhythmia symptoms: Fatigue or weakness, alternating fast and slow heart rate, rapid heartbeat or pounding in the chest, sweating, and fainting spells.
How Can I Prevent Heart Disease?
According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of premature heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes. Here are some easy steps you can take to start protecting your heart today.
- Eat an abundance of heart-healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, and whole grains.
- Do not use tobacco products, including cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and chewable tobacco. You should also avoid being around secondhand smoke whenever possible.
- Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This can easily be achieved through regular activities like gardening, mowing the lawn, walking around your neighborhood, or even cleaning your house.
- Be aware of your overall cardiovascular risk. Keep track of your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Visiting Angels Supports Senior Heart Health
If you or your loved one experiences heart disease, you may need some extra help with daily activities and tasks around the house. Visiting Angels Barrington is here to help with flexible in-home care service options. Our kind and experienced caregivers can provide support with heart-healthy habits, including medication reminders, help with healthy meal preparation, transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, assistance with daily physical activity, and more.
If you’re interested in learning more about non-medical home care services with Visiting Angels, please fill out our contact form or give us a call at 224-512-4180 today.