If you have been suffering from a heart attack, you may feel anxious and overwhelmed. You have a lot of questions after that. We can provide answers to some of these questions to recover and stay well. To begin with, it is important to take care of yourself. In the meantime, see people around you for help. Talk to your doctor for specific advice or if you have any concerns. In this article, we are going to provide you with facts about Heart Diseases but first, you have to know about what is heart diseases.
What Is Heart Diseases
Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Heart disease is an umbrella that includes blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems; and heart defects you’re born with, among others.
The term heart disease is also called cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.
Facts About Heart Diseases
- Heart disease is also known as cardiovascular disease or coronary heart disease and includes illnesses associated with the heart and vessels.
- There are many types of heart disease, including hypertension, coronary heart disease or heart attack, and cerebrovascular disease.
- 1 in 3 US adults has high blood pressure, and men are about 30% less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year. Encourage your dad to get his blood pressure checked. You could be saving his life! Sign up for I Heart Dad.
- An estimated 17.9 million people died worldwide from cardiovascular diseases in 2016, representing 31% of all global deaths.
- In the US, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups.
- About 647,000 people die from heart disease every year in the US. That’s 1 in 4 Americans.
- Heart attacks occur when oxygen-rich blood is blocked and can’t flow to the heart. The section of the heart devoid of oxygen begins to die if the flow isn’t restored in a sufficient amount of time.
- A person who is about to have a heart attack may exhibit these symptoms: pain or discomfort (in the chest, arms, shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back), shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting.
- In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.
- Heart attacks and strokes CAN be avoided. 80% of them are preventable by avoiding tobacco use, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids.