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What You Need to Know About Heart Disease

Heart disease is most often caused by atherosclerosis, or thickening and hardening of the arteries. If an artery narrows too much, the flow of blood carrying oxygen and nutrition to the heart muscle is decreased or blocked. When there is not enough blood flowing to the heart, you may 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.

Risk factors for heart disease

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 normally found in the body's cells and in the blood. If there's too much cholesterol in the blood, it can slowly build up on the inner walls of arteries. Two ways to lower your cholesterol are to exercise regularly and eat a diet low in cholesterol and 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 high blood pressure 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 increases the risk of heart disease by raising your blood pressure, reducing your HDL ("good") cholesterol, and increasing the tendency for blood to clot.
• Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise is usually a major risk factor for heart disease. Physical activity can lower risk by helping to control weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
• Overweight and obesity. Your risk for heart disease is increased if you're overweight or obese. Excess weight causes the heart to work harder. It can also raise cholesterol and blood pressure and can lead to diabetes.
• Diabetes. Diabetes greatly increases the risk of developing heart disease. This is especially true when blood sugar levels are not under good control. It is very important that people with diabetes work with their doctors to control blood sugar levels, weight, and blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Other factors that may also contribute to heart disease include stress and a poor diet. These may have effects on some of the major risk factors listed above.

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 blood glucose testing at least 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 more than a few minutes
• Pain that spreads from the chest to the back, neck, jaw, arm(s), or stomach area
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath (with or without chest pain)
• Breaking out in a cold sweat