Heart Disease

WHAT IS HEART DISEASE?
A broad term, heart disease includes several more specific heart conditions including the following: coronary heart disease (CHD), heart attack, angina or chest pain or discomfort, acute coronary syndrome, aortic aneurysm and dissection, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, heart failure, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and rheumatic heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK?
The following are the five major symptoms of a heart attack:
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back.
• Feeling weak, light-headed or faint.
• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders.
• Shortness of breath.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE?
Heart disease risk factors include both medical conditions and lifestyle factors which can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. Some of these conditions include the following: high levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol; high blood pressure; diabetes, high-fat, high-sodium diets; lack of physical activity; obesity; excessive alcohol use and heredity.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE?
Everyone can lower their risk for heart disease by observing healthy lifestyle changes, such as never smoking or quitting; maintaining a healthy weight; participating in regular physical activities; following a nutritious and healthy diet; avoiding excessive use of alcohol; preventing and controlling high blood cholesterol; preventing and controlling high blood pressure; and preventing and controlling diabetes.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HEART DISEASE?
Heart disease treatment options run the gamut from non-surgical (use of medications) to surgical, the procedures based on your particular medical condition and advice from your physician.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELPFUL HEART HEALTH SUPPORT?
Recently, football sports legend Emmitt Smith and his wife Pat Smith, a former Miss Virginia beauty queen, teamed with Mended Hearts, Inc. to challenge Americans to become more aware of heart health and lower their risk for heart disease by building a “Game Plan for a Healthy Heart.” Stressing lifestyle modifications to diet and fitness, the Smiths also connected with John La Puma, MD, author of Chef MD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine. Dr. La Puma is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine who pioneered the idea of food as medicine and has dedicated his career to educating consumers on how to live a healthy lifestyle. He is regularly featured every Sunday morning on Lifetime Television’s national TV series Health Corner where he is the host of “What’s Cooking with ChefMD?”