Keeping up with
heart health
Cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one killer. This causes 17.9 million deaths per year. It is the leading cause of disability or death in the world. Cardiovascular disease involves any disease of the heart, vascular disease of the brain, or disease of the blood vessel. 80% of the 17.9 million deaths each year are due to heart attacks.
Your heart is the strongest muscle in your body, but can be weakened by unhealthy habits. You put yourself at greater risk by forming habits such as smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, or putting your heart under stress. Another good tip to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is to monitor your blood pressure.
Know the signs of a heart attack in order to help yourself as early as possible. Most heart attacks start slowly and usually only cause discomfort. Look for these signs to know when a heart attack is happening; chest discomfort, discomfort in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, and things like nausea, breaking out into a cold sweat, or lightheadedness. Also, be aware of these stroke warning signs: sudden numbness or weakness in the face, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden vision problems, sudden trouble with walking or balance, and a severe headache with no known cause.
Know these signs and ask your doctor if you are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
