Coronary heart disease affects the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood, oxygen and nutrients. Partial blockage of the arteries can cause pain and decreased heart function. Complete blockage will cause a heart attack.
WARNING SIGNS
If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of these other signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Chest discomfort. This discomfort in the center of the chest can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath
- Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
RISK FACTORS
- Heart disease most commonly occurs in men over the age of 40 and in women after menopause.
- A person with a close relative who has had a heart attack (especially before the age of 65) may be at higher risk. Exposure to any kind of tobacco smoke increases your chance of coronary heart disease.
- The risk of coronary heart disease goes up as body weight increases.
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure/diabetes/high cholesterol can each cause damage to blood vessels.
Assess your risk for heart disease.
For more information, read Managing Your Risk Factors.
PREVENTIVE BEHAVIORS
There are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing heart disease:
- Stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
- Eat a healthy diet. Healthy food habits can help you reduce three risk factors for coronary heart disease – high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Lose weight if you are more than 20 percent over recommended levels.
- Exercise regularly. Even just 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise (such as walking) can decrease your risk.
- Keep your blood pressure, blood sugars and cholesterol levels under control.
- If making lifestyle changes isn't enough to control your heart disease, medications may be needed to help your heart work more efficiently and receive more oxygen-rich blood.
If you already have heart disease or risk factors for it, it is important to see your doctor regularly to address lifestyle issues and medications that can help treat your condition.
For more information, read the ABC's of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack.
Use the Blood Pressure Management Center to track your blood pressure, weight and physical activity.
EARLY DETECTION
For people without symptoms, there is no perfect screening test for heart disease. If you have symptoms or risk factors, your doctor may want to do an electrocardiogram (EKG) to look at the electrical activity of your heart, an exercise test or an imaging test to examine your heart’s structure and function.
People of all ages should be screened periodically for risk factors for heart disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and being overweight/obese.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Cardiac Care at Evergreen
Find an Evergreen-affiliated Cardiologist
American Heart Association
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