In the News Heart Health Month – Part I
Every February across the United States, Heart Health Awareness Month is celebrated. Since declared a health month by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, fundraising and heart health awareness activities take place all over the country.
This month we look at the different statistics regarding heart health and some ways that you can be preventative when it comes to your heart health.
- Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in America.
- Approximately 640,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that’s 1 in 4 deaths.
- More than ¾ of the deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in low- to middle- income countries.
- Someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 38 seconds, according to the American Heart Association.
- Around 18.2 million adults over the age of 20 have cardiovascular disease.
- One in five heart attacks are silent, with the person unaware of it.
So, what are the warning signs of a heart attack? Here are some common symptoms:
- Tightness in the chest
- Nausea, heartburn and indigestion
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Fatigue
- Sudden dizziness
Many different risk factors affect your chances of developing heart disease. Understanding what aspects of your life play a role can help you make changes to improve your health. Of course, there are some risk factors that you cannot change, but you should still be aware of them. Here are the risk factors:
(Continued in Part II…)