Heart Disease: What You Need to Know

February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day and romance–it’s also about our heart health! This month, health groups across the nation are coming together to help raise awareness about heart disease. Here are some quick facts every American should learn this season.

• Heart disease may be called cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease. It refers to a wide range of illnesses that involve the heart and vessels.

• A heart attack happens when blood flow is blocked and can’t move to the heart. If blood flow isn’t promptly restored, the heart will begin to die since blood carries the oxygen hearts need.

• Some of the most common types of heart disease include high blood pressure (hypertension), heart attack (coronary heart disease), and stroke (cerebrovascular disease).

• Common symptoms of an imminent heart attack include pain in the chest, arms, shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting.

• Someone about to have a stroke will often experience weakness of their face, arm, or leg, impaired vision, confusion and/or difficulty speaking, a loss of balance or coordination, fainting or vomiting.

• About 80% of heart attack and stroke are preventable with the right lifestyle choices. That means avoiding tobacco, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipids.

• Annually, 1 in 4 Americans die from heart disease in the US. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.

• Nearly 24 million people are expected to die from some form of heart disease by 2030.

This February do yourself and your loved ones a favor by learning everything you can about better heart health. Faulkner’s Drug Store is there to help. Stop by the pharmacy anytime to talk to our friendly pharmacists, and like our Facebook page for even more helpful tips.