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What You Need to Know About Heart Disease

Heart disease is often caused by atherosclerosis, or thickening and hardening of the arteries. If an artery narrows too much, blood carrying oxygen and nutrition to the heart muscle is decreased or blocked. When there is not enough blood flowing to the heart, you can feel chest pain. A heart attack may occur if an artery closes all the way or narrows so much that a blood clot blocks the blood flow.

Some risk factors for heart disease, such as advancing age, gender and heredity, can't be controlled. But, says the American Heart Association (AHA), you can control other factors, including:


  • High cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body's cells. Two ways to lower your cholesterol are to exercise regularly and eat a diet low in saturated fat. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about cholesterol.
  • High blood pressure. Your heart must work harder when your blood pressure is high. When this occurs for an extended time, the heart may enlarge and arteries may become scarred and hardened. You can treat it with changes in your diet and lifestyle. Drug therapy is also available. Talk to your doctor to see if such therapy might be appropriate for you.
  • Cigarette smoking. Smoking often promotes heart disease by quickening the development of atherosclerosis, reducing your HDL ("good") cholesterol and raising your blood pressure.
  • Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise is usually a major risk factor for heart disease because inactivity can contributes to higher cholesterol and obesity.
  • Obesity. Your risk for heart disease may increase if you're more than 30 percent overweight. Obesity can raise cholesterol and can lead to diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease.
  • Alcohol. Having one or two alcoholic beverages daily may reduce your risk for heart disease. Drinking more than this can raise blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
Preventing heart disease
You can reduce your risk for heart disease and a heart attack by seeing your doctor for regular checkups to evaluate your risk factors. If you have risk factors, you and your doctor can work together to control them.

The AHA recommends regular screening for your risk of heart disease beginning at age 20. Screening usually includes measuring blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and pulse every two years, and getting a cholesterol profile and glucose testing every five years.

Your doctor may want you to have more frequent screenings or visits if you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your screening schedule.


Signs of a heart attack
If you or someone you're with is having a heart attack, call 911 or your emergency medical help number.

The signs of a heart attack include:


  • Pain, pressure or a squeezing in the middle of the chest that lasts for two minutes or more
  • Pain that spreads from the chest to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
  • Dizziness or faint feeling
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty breathing.


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