February is National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month.  According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and is a major cause of disability.  The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack.

How healthy is your heart?

Knowing your risk factors and what you can to do prevent and control heart disease are great first steps towards having a healthy heart.  Some of the risk factors associated with heart disease are:  High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and exposure to secondhand smoke.

What if you did have a heart attack?  Would you recognize the symptoms?

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It 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. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Learn more about what you can do to keep a healthy heart by visiting:

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HeartMonth/

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/educational/hearttruth/lower-risk/find-out.htm

http://millionhearts.hhs.gov